Brain Tumour - Types, Symptoms, Causes and Diagnosis

Abnormal growth and multiplication of cells inside the brain leads to the formation of lumps, known as brain tumours or intracranial tumours. Tumours can be both benign or non-cancerous and malignant or cancerous. Medical science has documented more than 150 types of brain tumours. However, primary and metastatic types are the predominant ones.

The growth rate and location of the tumour determine its type and how much it will affect the nervous system. The treatment of the tumour is also dependent on these two factors.

Now that you know what a brain tumour is, let us take a look at the other factors mentioned above.

Types of Brain Tumours and Their Symptoms

There are 2 main brain tumour types. These are -

1) Primary tumour – This is a tumour emerging from the tissue of the brain and its surroundings. It can be cancerous or non-cancerous. It has two sub-divisions:

Glial tumour – It refers to abnormal growth in the non-neuronal section of the central and peripheral nervous system that provides electrical impulses.
Non-glial tumour – It refers to growth and multiplication of cells inside the brain structure comprising nerves, glands, and blood vessels.

2) Metastatic brain tumour – It is a tumour that does not arise in the brain but migrates to the brain from other body parts through the bloodstream or lymph nodes. It is always cancerous. Above 15000 people per year are diagnosed with metastatic tumours.

Here is a table encapsulating different types of brain tumours based on their origin and their respective symptoms -

Type 1: Benign Brain Tumour
Type 2: Malignant Brain Tumour

Classification	Location in Brain	Brain Tumour Symptoms
Type 1, Chordomas	Base of the skull, the lower part of the spine, often puts pressure on neural tissue	Nosebleed, headache, vision problem, muscle weakness, bowel problem
Craniopharyngiomas	Deep inside the brain on the pituitary gland	Obesity, delayed development in the child, vision problem for the swollen optic nerve, hormonal problem
Gangliocytomas	Neoplastic nerve cells	Endocrine disorder, vision problem, brain pressure
Glomus jugulare	On the top of the jugular vein at the base of the skull	Dizziness, hearing loss, hoarseness, loss of facial muscle movement
Meningiomas	In intracranial part of the brain on the membrane-like structure across brain and spinal cord	Headache, weakness, seizures, vision problem
Pineocytomas	In pineal cells	-
Pituitary adenomas	On pituitary gland	Hormonal problem, vision problem, headache, behavioural changes
Schwannomas	In nerve cells	pins-and-needle feeling, weakness, back and neck pain, lump, burning sensation
Type 2, Astrocytomas	In glial cells of the primary brain, spinal cord, cerebrum	Memory loss, seizures, behaviour change, headache
Ependymomas	Ependymal cells in the lining of the ventricular system of the brain (caused by neoplastic transformation)	Headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, balance and walking problem, blurry vision, bowel problem
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM)	Grows in glial cells, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes	Nausea, vomiting, headache, weakness, memory problem, difficulty in balancing, seizures
Medulloblastomas	Cerebellum	Hearing loss, dizziness, vomiting, nausea, problem in thinking ability.
Oligodendrogliomas	Cells of myelin, the insulating wire of the brain	Language problem, balance and walking problem, personality change, memory loss, seizure
Hemangioblastomas	Blood vessels to the cerebellum	Loss of coordination, headache, imbalance, vomiting
Rhabdoid tumours	Central nervous system	Morning headache, un-sleepiness, loss of balance, coordination problem, increase in the size of the head, trouble in walking.

The Main Causes of Brain Tumour

Precise brain tumour causes are yet unknown. However, some influencing factors are family history, exposure to ionizing radiation, and cancer in other parts of the body.

Some other related factors that serve as reasons for brain tumour are -

Increasing age, especially between 50-60 years,
Smoking
Exposure to pesticides, fertilizers, etc.
Consistent exposure to rubber, petroleum, lead, plastic, and textiles.
Mononucleosis or infection by Epstein-Barr virus.

Risk Factors of Brain Tumour

How brain tumour is caused is yet a factor under research. Following factors may enhance the risk of developing brain cancer -

Age – Infants and older people are more at risk; however, it may happen at any age.
Gender- Men are more susceptible to brain tumours than women.
Work exposure – Those working with pesticides, vinyl chloride, fertilizers are prone to this disease.
Heredity - More than 5% of cancer patients have a family history of tumour or cancer. Li-Fraumeni syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, neurofibromatosis, Turcot syndrome, nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome, and von Hippel-Lindau are susceptible to brain tumours.
Exposure to viruses and infections – Exposure to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Cytomegalovirus (CMV) may cause brain tumour.
Electromagnetic field – Exposure to the electromagnetic field from a cell phone or power line are at increased risk.
Ethnicity – People in the USA develop Gliomas, people of Africa are prone to meningioma, and people of northern Europe are more prone to brain tumours than people of Japan.
Ionizing radiation – Exposure to ionizing radiation, X-rays are at high risk.
Injury in head and seizures – Deadly injury or seizures influences tumour.
N-nitroso compounds – Medicines and supplements with N-nitroso compounds enhance the risk of brain tumours.

How Is Brain Tumour Diagnosed?

To pinpoint brain tumours, high resolution and sophisticated imaging techniques are necessary. These include -

Computed tomography
Magnetic resonance imaging
Tissue biopsies
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS)
Positron Emission Tomography (PET scan)

Biopsy confirms the status of the tumour, whether it is malignant or benign. The neurosurgeon does it, and the pathologist makes the final diagnosis.

If you experience any symptom of a brain tumour, consult with a doctor immediately. Sometimes symptoms overlap; however, try and track those. Treatment in the early stage can ensure the fastest recovery. The tumour can grow rapidly in a short period. Therefore, delay in treatment can be deadly.

Frequently Asked Questions

All

Which is the slowest growing brain tumour?

Hemangioblastoma is the slowest growing brain tumour, prevalent in men more than women aged 40-60 years.

What are the symptoms of a final stage malignant brain tumour?

The symptoms of a final stage of malignant brain tumour are -

Cognitive disorder
Personality change
Focal and neurological problem
Walking and balancing problem
Memory loss
Confusion and difficulty in thinking and identifying
Dysphagia

How much time does a brain tumour need to grow?

There is no fixed time period associated with the growth of brain tumours. However, it can grow 10 years before manifesting any symptom.