A cancerous or noncancerous growth in the brain can cause serious damage. Tumors can either destroy tissue or cause problems to other parts of the body because of the pressure put on the brain by the growth.
Symptoms of a brain tumor depend on its size, growth rate and location. The first symptom is usually a headache that recurs often, is severely painful and is felt constantly without relief for long periods. Difficulty with balance, dizziness, double vision, nausea, vomiting, fever and abnormal pulse and breathing rates can also occur. At the late stages of the disorder, dramatic changes in blood pressure may occur. Seizures are a common symptom of benign brain tumors and slow-growing cancers. Tumors can cause a part of the body to weaken or feel paralyzed. Hearing, sight and the sense of smell can be affected. Persons who display personality changes and are prone to confusion and unable to think clearly require immediate medical attention.
Most malignant brain tumors have spread (metastasized) from other tumors in the body to the skull. Cancers of the breast and lung, malignant melanoma and blood cell cancers (such as leukemia and lymphoma) can spread to the brain. Metastasized cells may grow in one or several areas of the brain.
In addition to observing these symptoms, doctors can confirm the presence of a brain tumor through a CT (computed tomography) or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan, which can measure the size and exact position of the tumor.
A biopsy (sample tissue) of the tumor may be taken to see what type of tumor it is and whether it is malignant (cancerous). A biopsy can usually be done during surgery, at which time all or part of the tumor is removed. Tumors buried deep in the brain sometimes cannot be approached safely. In those cases, a biopsy is done using a three-dimensional needle technique, in which special imaging equipment guides the placement of a needle and cells are drawn into the needle.
Sometimes a spinal tap is performed so that spinal fluid can be collected and examined for cancer cells. If the tumor is causing pressure in the brain, this procedure cannot be done because the sudden change in pressure in the skull could cause herniation (bulging of a membrane). Herniation is one of the most dangerous possible complications of a brain tumor and one that can cause serious breathing, heart rate and blood pressure problems. Unless it is caught early, herniation eventually results in coma and death.
When possible, brain tumors are removed through surgery. While many can be removed with little or no damage to the brain, other tumors are located in areas where surgical removal is difficult or impossible without destroying critical parts of the brain. Brain damage caused by surgery can lead to partial paralysis, changes in sensation, weakness and poor thinking. Even so, removing a tumor is necessary when it threatens important brain structures. Even when it cannot cure a malignancy, surgery can help reduce the size of the tumor, ease symptoms and help determine the type of tumor and best treatment. Sometimes radiation therapy is given after surgery to kill any leftover malignant cells.
