Written By Keisya Talitha
Brain tumor is a phenomenon in which abnormal cells grow in the brain, also known as an intracranial tumor. These abnormal cells can grow in any part of the brain uncontrollably such as the skull base, the sinuses, the brainstem, and any other areas in the brain. Depending on where they are arising from what tissue, they varied into more than hundred types of brain tumors such as meningioma, pituitary adenoma, and craniopharyngioma. Brain tumors affect people of all ages including children but are more common in older adults. Risk factors include age (mostly happen in older adults aged 85-89 but some types of brain tumors happen in children), radiation from previous radiotherapy or X-rays of the head, and generic conditions that increase the risk of brain tumors such as tuberculosis sclerosis and turner syndrome.
Generally, brain tumors are divided into two main groups commonly known as primary and metastatic. Primary brain tumors are categorized into several different categories such as glial or non-glial (including blood vessels and nerves) and benign or malignant. On the other hand, metastatic brain tumors are tumors that grow anywhere in the human body such as lungs in which later move to the brain through the bloodstream.
Brain tumors are considered to arise from when genes on the chromosome cell are broken and not functioning properly. It is believed that when a cell is dividing massively and some of them are damaged, the cell will eventually grow into a tumor. Although the human body has its own defensive system such as the immune system which would detect any abnormal cells and potentially kill it, tumors usually produce substances that will block the immune system and overpower them.
Brain tumor symptoms may also vary depending on the location. Common symptoms include headaches, seizures, paralysis, dizziness, nausea, disorientation, and many more. Generally, brain tumors can be detected through some imaging techniques such as Computed Tomography (CT or CAT scan) as well as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Further diagnostic, MRI can also help to determine the resection plan of tumors. Intraoperative MRI can also be used to guide tissue biopsies and tumor removal during the surgery process. Other tools such as Positron Emission Tomography (PET scan) is used to detect brain tumors. Despite all these tools that help to diagnose, in some cases, biopsy is the only way to diagnose a brain tumor. Along the process, the pathologist will make the final diagnosis and conclude what kinds of tumors that occur and grade it according to the grading system as will be mentioned below.
These days, brain tumors are graded on how fast they could grow and whether or not they are likely to grow after the treatment is done. Low grades are usually from grade 1 and grade 2 tumors, while grade 3 and grade 4 are considered high grades. Grade 1 includes several tumor types such as pilocytic astrocytoma and craniopharyngioma, grade 2 includes tumors like pineocytoma, pure oligodendroglioma, and “diffuse” astrocytoma. High grades from grade 3 include types of tumors such as anaplastic oligodendroglioma, anaplastic ependymoma, and anaplastic astrocytoma. Further information, grade 4 includes tumors like glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), pineoblastoma, and medulloblastoma.
In the development of technology, researches have been done and come to create some other options to treat brain tumors. For instance, Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LITT) is a new technique that is currently used to treat small tumors for areas that are difficult to reach using the surgery procedure. This procedure involves placing a tiny catheter inside the lesion then using the laser to ablate it thermally. New therapies are currently still being studied, however, brain tumors are usually treated with surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Each type of therapy is associated with risks and side effects.
Brain tumors cannot be prevented. But the risk potential of developing brain tumors can be reduced through avoiding environmental hazards such as smoking and living a healthy lifestyle. People who have been diagnosed with brain tumors are expected to receive treatment and monitor the symptoms regularly. Unfortunately, it is common for brain tumors to occur back after one treatment is done. Therefore, even after the treatment is done, frequently meeting the healthcare provider is recommended to monitor whether or not there is recurrence.
References
Brain Tumors. American Association of Neurological Surgeons. https://www.aans.org/en/Patients/Neurosurgical-Conditions-and-Treatments/Brain-Tumors. Retrieved on 2024, February 2.
What Are Brain Tumors?. (2023). Cancer Research UK. https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/brain-tumours/about. Retrieved on 2024, February 2 .
Brain Tumors. (2023). National Health Service. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/brain-tumours/. Retrieved on 2024, February 2.
Brain Tumors and Brain Cancer. John Hopkins Medicine. https://hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/brain-tumor#overview. Retrieved on 2024, February 2.
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