What kind of tumors are there in the brain

Nasopharyngeal angiofibroma, also known as juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma, is a benign skull base tumor in the nose that is usually diagnosed in adolescent boys.

It is the most common benign tumor of the nasopharynx the space at the back of the nose that connects the nose with the mouth. It spreads to areas around the nose, causing symptoms such as congestion and nosebleeds. Choroid plexus tumors are rare tumors that are found in the choroid plexus — the part of the brain within its ventricles that produces cerebrospinal fluid.

They most frequently occur in children under the age of 2 and can cause hydrocephalus , a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid, as they grow. This can result in increased pressure on the brain and enlargement of the skull. A rare malignant type of choroid plexus tumor is the choroid plexus carcinoma. This is a type of neuronal-glial brain tumor — it is made of a mix of neurons and supporting cells. Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors are rare benign tumors that occur in the tissues covering the brain and spinal cord.

Typically found in children and teens, these tumors can cause seizures. Other neuronal-glial brain tumors include gangliogliomas, gangliocytomas and rosette-forming tumors. Neurofibromas are benign, generally painless tumors that can grow on nerves anywhere in the body. In some cases, these soft, fleshy growths develop in the brain, on cranial nerves or on the spinal cord.

Multiple neurofibromas are a symptom of a genetic disorder called neurofibromatosis type 1 NF1. Hemangioblastomas are benign tumors of the blood vessels that can form in the brain. These tumors can often be removed through surgery. In rare occasions, they can appear in multiple sites and be symptomatic of a hereditary disease called Von Hippel-Lindau. If that is the case, different tests and visits with a specialist such as an ophthalmologist or geneticist may be recommended.

Chondromas are very rare benign tumors made of cartilage. They can develop in the cartilage found in the skull base and the paranasal sinuses, but they can also affect other body parts such as the hands and feet. Chondromas typically occur in patients between the ages of 10 and While these tumors grow slowly, they may eventually cause the bone to fracture or grow too much, creating pressure on the brain. Named for their extremely large cells, giant cell tumors are rare bone tumors that usually affect the leg and arm bones.

They may also be found in the skull. Most giant cell tumors are benign and occur in patients between 20 and 40 years of age. Osteomas are benign bone tumors new bone growth that usually develop on the skull base and facial bones.

In general, these slow-growing tumors cause no symptoms. However, if large osteomas grow in certain areas of the brain, they may cause problems with breathing, vision or hearing. Arachnoid cysts are common benign brain cysts that occur in the membranes surrounding the brain and are filled with cerebrospinal fluid.

They are usually present since birth, cause no symptoms, and are often left untreated. This is a benign mass that appears in the third ventricle of the brain.

It can block the cerebrospinal fluid pathways, causing headaches and hydrocephalus, or can be found completely incidentally. It is often removed with surgery, especially if it causes hydrocephalus. Dermoid and epidermoid cysts are slow-growing masses that form from leftover skin tissue in embryonal development. They are treated with surgery, and follow-up procedures can be done safely if complete extirpation is not possible during the first surgery.

Encephalocele is a sac-like protrusion of the brain and the membranes that cover it through an opening in the skull. This rare birth defect occurs when the neural tube, in which the brain and spinal cord form, fails to close completely during fetal development. Encephaloceles can occur in the base of the skull, at the top or back of the skull, or between the forehead and nose. They can cause deformities in the face and cranium that are repaired with surgery. Some tumor types are assigned a grade, ranging from Grade I least malignant to Grade IV most malignant , which signifies the rate of growth.

There are variations in grading systems, depending on the tumor type. The classification and grade of an individual tumor help predict its likely behavior. This section describes the most frequently diagnosed types. Keep in mind that many tumors have different subtypes; for example, an astrocytoma can be a juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma, an anaplastic astrocytoma or a glioblastoma.

In addition, the same tumors sometimes have different names; even pathologists are not always consistent in what they call them. The most common early sign of meningioma is chronic headaches, said Dr. Roughly 15, new cases of glioblastoma are diagnosed every year, with average survival rates resting somewhere in the to- month timeframe. A full range of treatment approaches are often utilized to fight glioblastoma, including surgical resection, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, said Dr.

Penn also has a wide array of glioblastoma clinical trials, the most promising of which are the immunotherapy trials.

Sean Grady, M. The grade of astrocytoma tumors—meaning their level of malignancy and aggressiveness—varies; sometimes they grow slowly Grade II and sometimes they come on more aggressively Grade III. Treatment approaches to astrocytomas always involve surgery, and occasionally involve chemotherapy and radiation therapy, Dr. Lustig told us. Medulloblastoma is the most common type of cancerous brain tumor in children. Primary brain tumors originate in the brain itself or in tissues close to it, such as in the brain-covering membranes meninges , cranial nerves, pituitary gland or pineal gland.

Primary brain tumors begin when normal cells develop changes mutations in their DNA. A cell's DNA contains the instructions that tell a cell what to do. The mutations tell the cells to grow and divide rapidly and to continue living when healthy cells would die. The result is a mass of abnormal cells, which forms a tumor. In adults, primary brain tumors are much less common than are secondary brain tumors, in which cancer begins elsewhere and spreads to the brain.

Many different types of primary brain tumors exist. Each gets its name from the type of cells involved. Examples include:. Secondary metastatic brain tumors are tumors that result from cancer that starts elsewhere in your body and then spreads metastasizes to your brain. Secondary brain tumors most often occur in people who have a history of cancer. Rarely, a metastatic brain tumor may be the first sign of cancer that began elsewhere in your body.

In most people with primary brain tumors, the cause of the tumor isn't clear. But doctors have identified some factors that may increase your risk of a brain tumor. Brain tumor care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products.

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