Brain Tumor Treatment in Mumbai, India | Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital

Overview

A tumor is a solid mass of tissue that forms when abnormal cells group together. When such abnormal cells create a collection in your brain, it is termed a brain tumor. Since the brain cavity is very rigid, and growth of these abnormal cells can lead to severe complications and even life-threatening situations. A brain tumor can be benign or malignant based on the type and activity of abnormal cells.

Associated Anatomy:

brain cells, meninges, and nerve cells

Alternate Name:

Brain cancer, CNS malignancy

Symptoms of Brain Tumor

The signs and symptoms of a brain tumor might differ depending on where the tumor is located. As different brain parts are involved in different functions, brain tumor symptoms will differ based on where the tumor is located.

A cerebellar tumor may alter a person's ability to walk, balance, and coordinate. Tumors that disrupt the optic pathway can cause vision disturbances. Also, the size and rate of growth can impact a patient's symptoms.

Here are some of the most common signs of a brain tumor:

Headaches
Convulsions or seizures
Abnormal thinking or speaking
Changes in personality or behavior
Weakness
Paralysis or numbness in a particular part of the body
Unsteadiness
Difficulty in balancing
Hearing impairment
Vision disturbances
Confusion
Disorientation
Memory loss

Causes of Brain Tumor

The exact cause of all types of brain tumors is unknown. However, several risk factors are known to increase the chances of getting affected. We gave covered those risk factors below under the given heading.

Stages of Brain Tumor

The brain tumor can be categorized into four grades depending on the severity and aggressiveness of the tumor.

Grade I Brain Tumor - Tumors are noncancerous (benign) and develop slowly. Under a microscope, the cells appear to be normal.
Grade II Brain Tumor - Slow-growing tumor that occasionally spreads to surrounding normal tissue. It has the potential to develop into a Grade III tumor.
Grade III Brain Tumor - These are Malignant (cancerous) abnormal tumor cells that expand into surrounding normal brain areas. It has a high chance to recur, frequently as a higher-grade tumor.
Grade IV Brain Tumor - This is the most aggressive malignant, fast-growing tumor that easily spreads into surrounding normal brain areas. Under a microscope, the cell also seems to be quite aberrant. Tumors include patches of dead cells.

Typical Test Required For Brain Tumor Detection

A physical exam and an assessment of the medical history are used to evaluate a brain tumor. The medical examination involves a thorough neurological evaluation. Your Doctors may use the following important screening procedures:

The CT Scan: CT scans allow your doctor to obtain a clear image of your brain. This may be done with or without the use of contrast
Head MRI: An MRI differs from a CT scan in that it does not utilize radiation and produces significantly more clear images of the parts of the brain
Angiography: This test involves injecting a dye into your artery
Skull X-Rays: To detect any kind of break or fracture in the skull
Biopsy: A small portion of the tumor is removed and analyzed to determine the presence of abnormal cells.

Possible Brain Tumor Treatment

The management of a brain tumor depends on the type of tumor, its size, location, and overall health. There are many brain tumor treatment options, including surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy.

The most common procedure for malignant brain tumors is surgery. Cancer should be removed as much as possible while causing minimal damage to normal brain tissue
Depending on their placement, some tumors may be removed easily and safely, while other tumors may be difficult to remove
Additionally, radiation therapy and chemotherapy may be used in combination with surgery
Following neurosurgery, physical, occupational, and speech therapy all play a role in recovery.

Risk Factors of Brain Tumor

The risk factors for brain tumors include:

Family History: There is a 5-to-10% probability that a brain tumor is genetically inherited or hereditary
Age: The risk of developing most forms of brain tumors rises with age
Race: Caucasians are more likely to get brain tumours in general. African-Americans, on the other hand, are more prone to have meningiomas
Chemical Exposition: Being exposed to certain chemicals raises your chance of developing brain cancer
Radiation Exposure: People who have been exposed to ionising radiation are at a higher risk of developing brain tumors. High-radiation cancer therapy can expose you to ionising radiation
History of Chickenpox: people with a history of childhood chickenpox have a decreased risk of getting brain tumors.

Brain Tumor Possible Complication

A brain tumor may lead to the following complications:

Depression
Loss of mental function
Fatigue
Seizures
Headaches
Hearing loss
Speech problems
Muscle paralysis
Death

Brain Tumor Primary Prevention

There are no specific ways to prevent brain tumors because the actual cause is unclear. However, minimizing some proven risk factors may reduce the possibility of developing the tumor. Furthermore, early detection and treatment of cancers with a tendency to metastasis to the brain may minimize the chance of metastatic brain tumors.

Differential Brain Tumor Diagnosis

The differential diagnosis for brain tumors includes the following disorders:

Tremor of essential importance
Seizures
Stroke
Chronic subdural hematoma
Meningitis
Optic neuritis
Arteriovenous malformation
Abscess in the brain
Neurosyphilis

Epidemiology

The yearly worldwide age-related incidence of primary malignant brain tumors in males is 3.7 per 100,000, while females have a rate of 2.6 per 100,000.
A brain tumor is more common at a young age and in males.
It is also more commonly seen in developed countries

Expected Prognosis

Generally, the prognosis for brain cancer depends on several factors, including the type of cancer detected, the response to treatment, and the severity of the tumor. The prognosis of medulloblastomas is good with chemotherapy, radiation, and surgical resection, but the prognosis of brainstem gliomas is poor for all types of brain cancer.

Pathophysiology

There are two basic types of brain tumours. A brain tumor that starts in the brain cells is called a primary brain tumor. A tumor that starts elsewhere and spreads to the brain is known as a secondary brain tumor. As the tumor develops, it exerts pressure on and alters the function of surrounding brain tissue, resulting in indications and symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and balance issues.

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