Journal of Tumor Research
Open Access

Types and Causes of Brain Tumors

Punam Joseph^{* *}Correspondence: Punam Joseph, Department of Oncology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia, USA, Email:

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Description

A brain tumour is a malignant or non-malignant mass or growth of abnormal cells in the brain. Tumors can begin in the brain, or cancer from another part of the body can spread to the brain. Brain tumour growth can vary greatly. The rate of growth and location of a brain tumour determine how it affects the function of the nervous system. The signs and symptoms of a brain tumour vary greatly depending on the size, location, and rate of growth of the tumour. Headaches that becomes more frequent and severe over time, unexplained nausea or vomiting, Vision problems such as blurred vision, double vision, or loss of peripheral vision, Inability to follow simple commands, Personality or behaviour changes. Seizures, especially in someone who doesn't have a history of seizures, are causing these issues. Difficulty with balance speech difficulties feeling very tired. Confusion in everyday matters making decisions is difficult. New onset or change in the pattern of headaches.

Types

Primary brain tumours develop in the brain or nearby tissues, such as the brain-covering membranes (meninges), cranial nerves, pituitary gland, or pineal gland. Primary brain cancers occur when normal cells' DNA changes (mutations). The DNA of a cell includes the instructions that direct the cell what to do. The mutations instruct the cells to grow and divide quickly and to survive even when healthy cells would die. As a result, a mass of abnormal cells forms a tumour. Primary brain tumours are significantly less common in adults than secondary brain tumours, which occur when disease develops somewhere and travels to the brain. There are numerous types of primary brain tumours.

Gliomas: These tumours originate in the brain or spinal cord and include ependymomas, astrocytomas, oligoastrocytomas, glioblastomas, and oligodendroglias.

Meningiomas: A meningioma is a tumour that originates from the membranes that surround the spinal cord (meninges) and brain. Most Meningiomas are noncancerous.

Acoustic neuromas (schwannomas): These are benign tumours that grow on the nerves that control hearing and balance, leading from the inner ear to the brain.

Pituitary adenomas: These are tumours that grow in the pituitary gland at the base of the brain. These tumours can affect the regulation of pituitary hormones that have effects throughout the body.

Medulloblastomas: These brain tumours are cancerous and most common in children, though they can occur at any age. Medulloblastoma develops in the inner back of the brain and spreads through the spinal fluid.

Germ cell tumors: Germ cell tumors may grow during childhood where the ovaries or testicles will form. But in rare cases germ cell tumors affect other parts of the body, such as the brain.

Craniopharyngiomas: These are the rare tumors originates near the brain's pituitary gland, which secretes hormones that control many body functions. Although Craniopharyngiomas grow slowly, they can affect the pituitary gland and other brain structures.

Conclusion

Secondary (metastatic) brain tumors are tumors that causes due to the cancer that starts anywhere in the body and then spreads (metastasizes) to the brain. Secondary brain tumors most repeatedly occur in people who have a history of cancer. In few cases, a metastatic brain tumor may be the first indication of cancer that originated elsewhere in the body. In adults, secondary brain tumors are more common than are primary brain tumors.