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What is a brain tumor?
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There are as many as 120 different types of brain tumors. A brain tumor can be benign or malignant, but with these types of tumors the distinction between benign and malignant is less clear than with many other tumors. Brain tumors can develop at any age. They do become more common as age increases.
Also read: When should you worry about a headache?
Benign or malignant
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A brain tumor can be benign or malignant.
- In a benign brain tumor there is a shell around the tumor cells. The cells can divide, but cannot spread outside the shell. That does not mean that a benign tumor is harmless. As a brain tumor grows, it can put pressure on certain parts of the brain. This can cause serious complaints. In the worst case, you can even die.
- A malignant brain tumor has no shell around the tumor cells. The cells can therefore grow undisturbed and affect the tissue around the tumor. The tumor cells can also spread throughout the body. This can cause multiple tumors to develop (metastases). When we speak of a malignant tumor we call it cancer.
Also read: How do you recognize brain cancer and what are risk factors?
Types of brain tumors
There are different types of brain tumors. Each species requires its own approach.
- Gliomas. A glioma is a tumor that arises from the supporting cells of the brain. There are different types of gliomas, most of which are malignant. After treatment, the glioma usually returns.
- Meningiomas. A meningioma arises in the meninges. Most meningiomas are benign. They do not spread further in the brain. However, a meningioma is located in important brain areas, which can cause serious complaints.
- Pituitary tumors. A pituitary tumor develops in the pituitary gland. That’s the area in the skull, behind your nose. A tumor in the pituitary gland is almost always benign, but can still cause serious complaints because it presses on important parts of the brain.
- Tumors in or near the spinal cord. Tumors that arise in the spinal cord are divided into two groups: primary tumors (originating in the spinal cord), which are rare, and secondary tumors (spreads of tumors elsewhere in the body to parts around the spinal cord), which are more common. The pressure on the spinal cord can cause complaints such as pain, loss of sensation and paralysis below the level of the tumor.
- Bridge angle tumors. A bridge angle tumor arises in the corner between the brain stem and the cerebellum. This type of tumor usually arises from the eighth cranial nerve, which is called a vestibular schwannoma. A bridge angle tumor is almost always benign: it grows very slowly and does not spread. However, it can cause complaints if it presses against one or more nerves.
Also read: Cerebral hemorrhage: cause, symptoms and treatment
How dangerous is a brain tumor?
How dangerous a brain tumor exactly is must be assessed on a case-by-case basis. In general, tumors classified as malignant are more serious than benign tumors.
Whether a brain tumor is benign or malignant, both types can cause serious damage to the body by pressing on and spreading to healthy parts of the brain. In any case, a brain tumor must be treated in all cases.
Also read: What is the chance that you will get cancer?
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Last updated: February 2024
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100 years of the fight against cancer – Foundation against Cancer
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2024-02-22 23:01:10
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