Malignant Tumors

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A malignant brain tumor is a rapidly developing cancer that can spread to the spine and other parts of the brain.

Most malignant tumors are secondary malignancies, which implies that they originated in another area of the body before spreading to the brain.

Different symptoms can occur depending on the tumor’s position in the brain.

Among the typical signs are,

If you experience persistent symptoms of a brain tumor, consult a doctor. Even if it’s unlikely to be a tumor, it’s preferable to consult a doctor.

The glial tissue supports the brain’s nerve cells and gives rise to most malignant brain tumors. Gliomas are the name given to these tumors.

Gliomas can be further divided depending on the cells from which they originated.

For instance:

Astrocytoma forms from cells assumed to provide the structure of the brain
Oligodendroglioma forms from the cells that create the fatty covering of neurons
Ependymoma emerges from specific cells that border the cavities in the brain

Additionally, a malignant tumor may form in a different brain area or be a hybrid.

The goal of treatment for a brain tumor is to get rid of as much of it as possible and try to prevent it from returning.

The primary therapies are:

Surgery involves removing a small portion of the skull, removing the tumor and then reattaching the skull fragment
After surgery, radiation from an external device is utilized in radiotherapy to kill cancer cells
Chemotherapy is a drug used to treat symptoms after surgery or to kill cancer cells if you cannot remove the tumor
If surgery is not an option, radiosurgery is to eradicate cancer by bombarding it with numerous small radiation beams
Carmustine implants (glial wafers) are a novel treatment for some high-grade tumors involving placing implants inside the brain

Reviewed by – Dr. Priyanka, MBBS MD Microbiology
Page last reviewed: 16 JULY 2022