What are the various types of brain tumors?
There are over 140 different types of brain tumors, which are classified into two main types – primary or metastatic brain tumors. Primary tumors are less dangerous as they stay intact inside the brain and do not spread outside.
On the other hand, metastatic tumors usually grow in other parts of the body, but eventually spread to the brain via blood tissue or lymphatic nodes. Although there is no proven cause of brain tumor, the reasons for its growth are attributed to genetic disorders traced back to family histories such as neurofibromatosis, tuberous sclerosis, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Hippel-Lindau disease, weak immune system, and exposure to radiation Brain tumor can be of different types, depending on the exact location where it forms. Some of the most popular brain tumors include the following:
- Astrocytoma
- Ganglioneuroma
- Central nervous system lymphoma
- Chordoma
- Acoustic neuroma
- Brain stem glioma
- Mixed glioma
- Primitive neuroectodermal
- Medulloblastoma
The two most dangerous types of a brain tumor include glioblastoma multiforme and astrocytoma brain tumors.
Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM)
It is a type of serious and dangerous form of malignant brain tumor. GBM a tumor is generally spotted in the cerebral hemispheres, which can actually spread to the brain, brainstem, and spinal cord. Some of the common characteristics of GBM include the following:
- They develop directly.
- It is common for children
- It usually evolves from a very lower-grade astrocytoma or oligodendroglioma
- It is generally composed of varied types of cells
- It is often seen in older men than women
GBM treatment typically involves surgery, which is combined with radiation therapy. Once the surgery is completed, radiation therapy is administered to destroy any leftover tumor cells. This procedure helps in preventing the reappearance of a tumor.
Astrocytoma Brain Tumours
- They have their source in astrocytes or star-shaped cells.
- These types of tumors are classified into four categories, which include grade I, grade II, grade III, grade IV.
- The most common symptom of this type of tumor is increasing pressure inside the skull. Some of the major symptoms include personality changes, drowsiness, disordered conduct, obtuseness, and lethargy.
- Astrocytoma tumors are best treated with radiation therapy.
An inoperable brain tumor can be highly dangerous. Due to its remote and inaccessible location in the brain, such tumors are inoperable. However, there are treatments for these types of tumors. Medications and radiation therapy helps control the growth of such tumors.