MALIGNANT TUMORS

Malignant brain tumors are usually described as primary, which originate in the brain itself, or metastatic (secondary), which originate in cancers in other parts of the body and spread secondarily to the brain.

A brain tumor is a mass of tissue formed by cells that don’t follow the control mechanisms for normal cells and grow and multiply without restraint. Since the skull encases the brain, there is very little room for expansion to accommodate the mass of a tumor, and the resulting increase in pressure causes many of the symptoms of brain tumors.

Specific types of malignant tumors include:

Primary Tumors - Primary brain tumors usually arise from the supporting cells of the brain, the so-called “glial cells” and, therefore, are referred to as gliomas. Several varieties of gliomas are also identified as astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas, anaplastic astrocytomas, and glioblastomas. The degree of malignancy may vary among different types of primary brain tumors. The usual treatment for these tumors is surgical removal followed by radiation therapy, and in many cases chemotherapy.

Metastatic Brain Tumors - Metastatic brain tumors occur in about half of all patients with cancers. Metastases are a secondary brain tumor that began somewhere else in the patient’s body and traveled to the brain. The most common sources of metastatic brain tumors are cancers of the lung, breast, colon, and kidney, as well as malignant melanomas of the skin.

SYMPTOMS

Malignant brain tumors produce symptoms that can be placed into two broad categories:

Intracranial pressure

		Headache
		Nausea
		Vomiting
		Confusion and/or lethargy

Focal irritation or disruption of brain function

		Seizures
		Weakness
		Speech or language deficits
		Visual problems and/or gait disturbances

TREATMENT

Most patients with primary malignant brain tumors are treated with surgical removal, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Gamma Knife Radiosurgery, as an addition to other treatments, increases the length and quality of life for such patients.

The treatment of malignant brain tumors is a multidisciplinary task and is best accomplished in centers that have a variety of treatment options available. Factors considered in developing a treatment plan include type and location of the tumor, symptoms, general condition of the patient, and, for metastatic brain tumors, the degree of control of the primary tumor and any metastases into other parts of the body. Your physician will discuss with you the appropriate treatments and possible side effects.

TREATMENT WITH GAMMA KNIFE RADIO SURGERY

In the past, most single metastatic brain tumors were treated by surgical removal, followed by conventional radiation therapy. However, studies over the past several years have shown that Gamma Knife Radiosurgery alone is as effective as surgery and radiation therapy and is considerably safer, easier on the patient, and less expensive.

Gamma Knife Radiosurgery can also successfully treat multiple brain metastases which cannot be treated surgically and which respond poorly to conventional radiation alone.

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