Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors Overview

Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors

• Half of all brain and spinal cord tumors are metastatic, originating from other parts of the body (e.g., breast, lungs), while the remaining are primary. Bone is the third most common site for metastasis.
• Primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors are the most frequent. Meningiomas and glioblastomas multiforme are common.
• Meningiomas are among the most common primary tumors within the meninges (membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord).
• Glioblastoma multiforme are highly malignant (aggressive).
• Approximately 2-3% of cancer deaths are associated with primary malignant tumors.
• Common primary brain tumors in children include medulloblastomas.

Clinical Manifestations

• Common symptoms include headaches, often worse at night and early morning, and seizures. Headache intensity may fluctuate, with periods of increased or decreased pressure.
• Headaches are often unresponsive to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
• Seizures may be associated with tremors, depending on the tumor location.
• Mental changes like memory loss and difficulty concentrating may occur, particularly in areas such as the pineal gland. Symptoms are often associated with increased intracranial pressure resulting from space-occupying lesions, obstruction of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow, or edema surrounding the tumor.

Tumor Characteristics

• Primary CNS tumors are frequently poorly circumscribed, meaning they don't have definitive boundaries with surrounding tissues.
• Generally, metastatic tumors are encapsulated or well-circumscribed.
• Primary brain tumors tend to stay within the cranial cavity, but some metastatic cancers may spread to the brain.

Types of Brain Tumors

• Tumors are categorized based on their embryological origin (the source of cells from which they develop).
• Neural tube tumors, such as astrocytomas, glioblastomas, medulloblastomas, and oligodendroblastomas, are common.
• Neural crest tumors include meningiomas and schwannomas.
• Ectoderm and mesoderm tumors are also observed.
• Brain tumors are often classified based on anatomical location, and common locations include the falx cerebri and tentorium cerebelli. Posterior fossa tumors are often seen in children; anterior fossa tumors are more common in adults.