About Tumors
A brain tumor is a growth caused by abnormal cells in the tissues of the brain. Understanding what treatment is right for you starts with understanding what kind of tumor you have. Some are benign, others malignant. These growths get their names from either the types of cells they are or from where they tend to occur.
Below are brief descriptions of the most common brain tumors, with more descriptions provided by the National Cancer Institute at http://www.nci.nih.gov/brain
Acoustic Neuroma
A benign tumor affecting the vestibular nerve and causing hearing loss, a ringing in the ear, and occasionally unsteadiness.
Ependymoma
A type of brain tumor that begins in the choroid plexus, which makes the cerebrospinal fluid that fills parts of the brain.
Glioma
A brain cancer that begins in the glial cells that surround and support nerve cells.
Hemangioblastoma
A usually non-cancerous tumor made up of stem cells that the body uses to make blood vessels or blood cells.
Meningioma
A slow-growing tumor that forms in the thin layers of tissue that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord.
Metastatic
Any tumor resulting from the spread of cancer to another part of the body from where it started
Pituitary
A normally benign tumor that forms in the pituitary gland, a pea-sized organ in the center of the brain above the back of the nose that makes hormones that affect other glands and many body functions, especially growth.
Skull base
Any tumor that starts at the base of the skull though which the spinal chord and major blood vessels and nerves pass.
A brain tumor is a growth caused by abnormal cells in the tissues of the brain. Understanding what treatment is right for you starts with understanding what kind of tumor you have. Some are benign, others malignant. These growths get their names from either the types of cells they are or from where they tend to occur.
Below are brief descriptions of the most common brain tumors, with more descriptions provided by the National Cancer Institute at http://www.nci.nih.gov/brain
Acoustic Neuroma
A benign tumor affecting the vestibular nerve and causing hearing loss, a ringing in the ear, and occasionally unsteadiness.
Ependymoma
A type of brain tumor that begins in the choroid plexus, which makes the cerebrospinal fluid that fills parts of the brain.
Glioma
A brain cancer that begins in the glial cells that surround and support nerve cells.
Hemangioblastoma
A usually non-cancerous tumor made up of stem cells that the body uses to make blood vessels or blood cells.
Meningioma
A slow-growing tumor that forms in the thin layers of tissue that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord.
Metastatic
Any tumor resulting from the spread of cancer to another part of the body from where it started
Pituitary
A normally benign tumor that forms in the pituitary gland, a pea-sized organ in the center of the brain above the back of the nose that makes hormones that affect other glands and many body functions, especially growth.
Skull base
Any tumor that starts at the base of the skull though which the spinal chord and major blood vessels and nerves pass.