Braintumors are rare

Only 10-25 cases each year in Curacao

Change of behaviour can be a symptom

2 types

Primary

A brain tumor can arise from braincells (primary brain tumor)

Secundary

Can have spread to the brain from another organ (metastasis), most common type

Different kind of Primary Brain Tumors

Tumors outside the brain (Extracerebral):

  • Meningioma (tumors of the meninges)
  • Pituitary tumors (tumors from the hormonal gland)
  • Skull tumor

Tumors within the brain (Intracerebral): 

  • Astrocytomas
  • Ependymomas
  • Oligodendrogliomas

 

All of these tumors can either be benign or malignant.

brain mri scan

Causes

  • Unknown
  • Genetic (rarely)

Symptoms

Headache is rarely a symptom of a brain tumor. Symptoms of braintumors vary. Depends on the location in the brain
 

Behaviour

Change of behaviour

Speech

Slurred speech/inability to speak

Memory

Memoryloss

Dizzy/Vision

Dizziness or unsteady gait and Blurry or double vision

Weakness

Weakness and or numbness in one side of the body

Epilepsy

Seizures can occur

Diagnosis

CT or MRI scan The definite diagnosis for tumortype: investigation of tumor tissue by pathologist.

neurosurgeon

Treatment

Depends on tumortype and location and can range from:

  • Surgery: removal or biopsy
  • Chemotherapy
  • Radiation 

Sometimes a combination.

Prognosis

Prognosis depends on the tumortype and needs to be discussed with your specialist.

Want to know more about the brain? Well, make sure to visit our friends from the national brain tumor society!