{"id":1220,"date":"2024-02-27T15:26:46","date_gmt":"2024-02-27T20:26:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/?post_type=chapter&p=1220"},"modified":"2026-05-23T16:07:59","modified_gmt":"2026-05-23T20:07:59","slug":"brain-tumors","status":"web-only","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/chapter\/brain-tumors\/","title":{"raw":"Brain Tumors","rendered":"Brain Tumors"},"content":{"raw":"

Brain Tumors - What are they?<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nBoth benign and malignant brain tumors can become life-threatening due to brain tissue compression.\u00a0 The increased intracranial pressure that occurs with a growing tumor in the brain can lead to local hypoxia.\u00a0 Brain cancer is one of the most common childhood cancers.\u00a0 Overall, brain cancer is less metastatic than other cancers but is highly fatal.\r\n\r\nBrain cancer typically arises when DNA mutations occur in one of the four types of neuroglial cells.\r\n
    \r\n \t
  1. Astrocytes<\/strong>, are primarily responsible for structural and physiological support of neurons.\u00a0 In addition to creating scaffolding as well as the blood-brain barrier, astrocytes play a key role in the recycling of neurotransmitters and neuron maintenance. Cancerous astrocytes can give rise to glioblastomas<\/strong> and astrocytomas<\/strong> (two of the most common types of brain cancer).<\/li>\r\n \t
  2. Ependymal cells<\/strong>, line the ventricles of the brain as well as the central canal of the spinal cord playing a role in the constant production and circulation of cerebrospinal fluid.<\/li>\r\n \t
  3. Microglial cells<\/strong> are small macrophages that are required for protecting against pathogens and removing cellular debris.<\/li>\r\n \t
  4. Oligodendrocytes<\/strong> are myelin sheath cells wrap around neuron axons and serve to increase the conduction velocity of action potentials.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_6053\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]\"\"<\/a> Nervous tissue is made up of neurons and 4 types of neuroglial cells (astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocytes, and ependymal cells). LM \u00d7 872. (Micrograph provided by the Regents of University of Michigan Medical School \u00a9 2012)[\/caption]\r\n\r\nBrain cancer can also be caused by cancerous cells arising in the meninges (i.e., dura mater, arachnoid mater, or pia mater).\u00a0 Cancers within the meninges are called meningioma.<\/strong>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_6010\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]\"Brain<\/a> Brain Cancers can cause many problems including compression, edema, increased Intracranial Pressure (ICP), and permanent neuron damage.[\/caption]\r\n

    Brain Cancer - Risk Factors and Prevention Strategies<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\r\nRisk factors<\/strong> for brain cancers include genetic susceptibilities (i.e., family history), immunosuppression, and exposure to carcinogens.\r\n\r\nPrevention strategies<\/strong> include: limiting one's exposure to ionizing radiation and other carcinogens as well as viruses that can be immunosuppressive (e.g., HIV).\r\n\r\nMetastasis<\/strong> from other locations (e.g., lung cancer) can result in brain cancers.\r\n\r\n\"\"<\/a>\r\n

    Brain Cancer - Signs and Symptoms<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\r\nSigns and symptoms can include a range of different symptoms such as headaches, nausea, cognitive problems, dysphagia, ataxia, fatigue, paresthesia, muscle weakness, changes in behaviour, loss of consciousness, and\/or problems with hearing, vision, coordination, balance, or memory.\r\n\r\n \r\n

    Brain Cancer - Diagnosis<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nOften, imaging<\/strong> (e.g., MRI, CT scan, PET scan) and biopsies (when possible) are used to assist in the diagnosis of brain cancer.\u00a0 Biopsy or collection of cells that may be present in cerebrospinal fluid through lumbar puncture are strategies used that allow for the collected cells to be analyzed under the microscope which is the most definitive way to diagnose brain cancer.\u00a0\u00a0At times neurological exams<\/strong> (e.g., checking vision, hearing, reflexes, motor coordination and strength) are also used to determine what areas of the brain are affected (though are not diagnostic on their own).\r\n

    Brain Cancer - Treatment<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nTreatments include surgery (when possible), chemotherapy, radiation therapy and immunotherapy.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_6044\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]\"A<\/a> A craniotomy can allow for surgical removal of a brain tumor or is sometimes used to remove hematomas (blood clots), fix vascular malformations, and decrease intracranial pressure.[\/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_6047\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"258\"]\"Neuroendoscopy,<\/a> Neuroendoscopy, also called keyhole brain surgery involves creating a small burr hole in the skull to insert an endoscope that has both a camera as well as tiny forceps at the end of it. This can be used to remove a tumor in the ventricles of the brain or remove fluid in the brain (hydrocephalus).[\/caption]\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_6042\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"242\"]\"An<\/a> An Ommaya reservoir (small plastic dome under the skin of the scalp) is used to deliver chemotherapy drug into the ventricles (CSF containing spaces) of the brain. This bypasses the blood brain barrier, meaning smaller doses of chemotherapy are used.[\/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_6043\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]\"Gliadel<\/a> Gliadel wafers are surgically inserted into the resection cavity post-surgical removal of the tumor to release chemotherapy drug. Gliadel wafers are 1.4 cm in diameter and 1 mm in thickness and are used to treat Glioblastomas.[\/caption]\r\n\r\n ","rendered":"

    Brain Tumors – What are they?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Both benign and malignant brain tumors can become life-threatening due to brain tissue compression.\u00a0 The increased intracranial pressure that occurs with a growing tumor in the brain can lead to local hypoxia.\u00a0 Brain cancer is one of the most common childhood cancers.\u00a0 Overall, brain cancer is less metastatic than other cancers but is highly fatal.<\/p>\n

    Brain cancer typically arises when DNA mutations occur in one of the four types of neuroglial cells.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Astrocytes<\/strong>, are primarily responsible for structural and physiological support of neurons.\u00a0 In addition to creating scaffolding as well as the blood-brain barrier, astrocytes play a key role in the recycling of neurotransmitters and neuron maintenance. Cancerous astrocytes can give rise to glioblastomas<\/strong> and astrocytomas<\/strong> (two of the most common types of brain cancer).<\/li>\n
    2. Ependymal cells<\/strong>, line the ventricles of the brain as well as the central canal of the spinal cord playing a role in the constant production and circulation of cerebrospinal fluid.<\/li>\n
    3. Microglial cells<\/strong> are small macrophages that are required for protecting against pathogens and removing cellular debris.<\/li>\n
    4. Oligodendrocytes<\/strong> are myelin sheath cells wrap around neuron axons and serve to increase the conduction velocity of action potentials.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      \"\"<\/a>
      Nervous tissue is made up of neurons and 4 types of neuroglial cells (astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocytes, and ependymal cells). LM \u00d7 872. (Micrograph provided by the Regents of University of Michigan Medical School \u00a9 2012)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

      Brain cancer can also be caused by cancerous cells arising in the meninges (i.e., dura mater, arachnoid mater, or pia mater).\u00a0 Cancers within the meninges are called meningioma.<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \"Brain<\/a>
      Brain Cancers can cause many problems including compression, edema, increased Intracranial Pressure (ICP), and permanent neuron damage.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

      Brain Cancer – Risk Factors and Prevention Strategies<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

      Risk factors<\/strong> for brain cancers include genetic susceptibilities (i.e., family history), immunosuppression, and exposure to carcinogens.<\/p>\n

      Prevention strategies<\/strong> include: limiting one’s exposure to ionizing radiation and other carcinogens as well as viruses that can be immunosuppressive (e.g., HIV).<\/p>\n

      Metastasis<\/strong> from other locations (e.g., lung cancer) can result in brain cancers.<\/p>\n

      \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

      Brain Cancer – Signs and Symptoms<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

      Signs and symptoms can include a range of different symptoms such as headaches, nausea, cognitive problems, dysphagia, ataxia, fatigue, paresthesia, muscle weakness, changes in behaviour, loss of consciousness, and\/or problems with hearing, vision, coordination, balance, or memory.<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Brain Cancer – Diagnosis<\/strong><\/h3>\n

      Often, imaging<\/strong> (e.g., MRI, CT scan, PET scan) and biopsies (when possible) are used to assist in the diagnosis of brain cancer.\u00a0 Biopsy or collection of cells that may be present in cerebrospinal fluid through lumbar puncture are strategies used that allow for the collected cells to be analyzed under the microscope which is the most definitive way to diagnose brain cancer.\u00a0\u00a0At times neurological exams<\/strong> (e.g., checking vision, hearing, reflexes, motor coordination and strength) are also used to determine what areas of the brain are affected (though are not diagnostic on their own).<\/p>\n

      Brain Cancer – Treatment<\/strong><\/h3>\n

      Treatments include surgery (when possible), chemotherapy, radiation therapy and immunotherapy.<\/p>\n

      \"A<\/a>
      A craniotomy can allow for surgical removal of a brain tumor or is sometimes used to remove hematomas (blood clots), fix vascular malformations, and decrease intracranial pressure.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
      \"Neuroendoscopy,<\/a>
      Neuroendoscopy, also called keyhole brain surgery involves creating a small burr hole in the skull to insert an endoscope that has both a camera as well as tiny forceps at the end of it. This can be used to remove a tumor in the ventricles of the brain or remove fluid in the brain (hydrocephalus).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

       <\/p>\n

      \"An<\/a>
      An Ommaya reservoir (small plastic dome under the skin of the scalp) is used to deliver chemotherapy drug into the ventricles (CSF containing spaces) of the brain. This bypasses the blood brain barrier, meaning smaller doses of chemotherapy are used.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
      \"Gliadel<\/a>
      Gliadel wafers are surgically inserted into the resection cavity post-surgical removal of the tumor to release chemotherapy drug. Gliadel wafers are 1.4 cm in diameter and 1 mm in thickness and are used to treat Glioblastomas.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Media Attributions<\/h2>