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Benign brain tumor: types, symptoms, consequences and treatment

A brain tumor is a terrible diagnosis both for the patient and for his loved ones. But not always, behind these words lies a sentence, more than half of cases are diagnosed with a benign brain tumor. The tumor grows slowly, not grow into the surrounding tissue, metastasizes, and often altogether cease to grow, reaching a certain size.

But despite such benign characteristics, in some patients it can malignities, that is, to transform into malignant. Also be aware that in the brain the separation of tumors into benign and malignant is very conditional, because in this body, every cell is responsible for some important function.

In addition, the brain is in a confined space of the skull, and the growth of tumors, despite its nature, be severe symptoms and complications caused by compression of parts of the brain, which can lead to death. Because all benign brain education are subject to immediate treatment as well as cancer.

Causes of benign brain tumors

Unfortunately, to date, the nature of oncologic neoplasms unspecified as benign or malignant. At some provocative reasons, cells begin non controlled share, which is caused by pathological changes in the DNA. Abnormal cells multiply, grow, and lead to the formation of tumors.

It is important to remember! The main difference between benign tumors and malignant is that first, reaching a certain stage of its growth, stop the further transformation and development. That is, they do not germinate the surrounding tissue, destroying them and do not metastasize.

Among the risk factors associated with development of benign tumors of the brain include:

  • genetic predisposition and positive family history (one of my relatives was diagnosed with a tumor);
  • radiation exposure (residence in regions with elevated background radiation, occupational hazards or radiation for other diagnostic and therapeutic procedures);
  • viral etiology of cancer (today the most popular and promising theory of the origin of cancer)
  • exposure to chemical carcinogens (vinyl chloride, formaldehyde, Acrylonitrile and other substances that are used in industry).

Lately a lot of talk you can hear about the dangers of mobile phones and their role in the development of brain tumors. But we also need to emphasize that this is only a theory. Noevidence that b has confirmed it.

The main types of benign brain tumors

All brain tumors can be divided into primary and secondary. Primary – those which arise directly in the brain tissue. They are both malignant and benign. Secondary – those tumors that have developed in the brain secondary to a primary lesion that is a metastasis of malignant tumors of other organs. It should be noted that such metastases are not uncommon, many tumors metastasize to the brain. If we look at the statistics, 60% among the neoplastic lesions of the brain accounted for by secondary metastasis, and only 40% is given for primary tumors. Thus, secondary tumors of the brain tissue can only be malignant.

Benign brain pathological formation can develop with a large number of structural cells of the brain, meninges and other tissues that are present in the cavity of the skull. Some tumors can be functionally active, i.e., to produce different hormonal substances. A striking example is the pituitary adenoma, which can cause various endocrine diseases. Consider the most common types of benign neoplastic lesions of the brain.

Meningioma

This is the most common type of benign neoplasias of the CNS tissue. It is diagnosed in 20% of cases of primary brain tumors. This tumor originates from cells of the meninges. It is necessary to emphasize that the widespread opinion that the tumor is growing their Dura mater is incorrect. If you refer to any textbook on pathological anatomy, as can be seen. Externally, the meningioma looks like a crisp, sleek and smooth node, which is associated anatomically with soft or hard brain lining. Has a gray-yellow color, sizes can vary from a few millimeters to 15 cm in diameter.

In the vast majority of cases is a benign tumor, although there are also malignant its variants. To determine the type of tumor is possible only after histological examination of the specimen.

The prognosis depends on localization, size and degree of malignancy (distinguish meningiomas without atypia, low, medium and high degree of malignancy). Benign tumors that occur in most cases after surgical complete removal is almost never recur and do not require chemotherapy or radiation treatment. But there are tumors that are difficult to remove because of their location. In such cases, resort to alternative treatments, for example,radiosurgical techniques.

Schwannoma

Arises from the sheaths of peripheral nerves. In the cranial cavity can meet schwannoma of the shells of cranial nerves. It is a smooth, whitish, the nodes enclosed in the capsule. Schwannoma often affect the nerve as the vestibulocochlear and trigeminal, causing the corresponding symptoms (

Symptoms of benign brain neoplasias

Initial signs of benign brain tumors are not specific and may not cause any concern. Suspicions arise when the tumor reaches considerable size and begins to compress the adjacent brain structures, as well as contribute to the development of intracranial hypertension.

Video transmission about the symptoms of brain tumors:

Principles of treatment

Treatment of benign tumors does not differ from

Forecast and consequences

Today incurable benign brain tumors are very rare. Almost 70% of patients can achieve full recovery with no recurrence of neoplasm growth for 5 years after treatment. In the older age group this figure is almost two times less.

Complications can develop in open surgical operations, when damaged healthy brain tissue. These patients may in future be problems with speech, vision, motor and sensory function of the body. Bezoperatsionnye modern techniques do not have these negative consequences.