Types of Tumors in the Central Nervous System – Malignant Brain Tumors

There are a number of types of brain tumors, which differ based on certain characteristics, among them: the origin of the tumor, the location in which the tumor develops and how malignant it is. Each type of tumor can lead to different symptoms and some can even be life threatening due to the fact that they develop in one of the most sensitive and important regions for bodily function.

The doctors at the Neurosurgical Center for Excellence at the Herzliya Medical Center private hospital are highly knowledgeable and extremely skilled in all aspects related the treatment of all types of brain tumors, presenting very impressive success rates across a wide range of surgical procedures for the treatment of this condition.

Types of Cancerous Brain Tumors and Their Features

As mentioned previously, there are a number of different types of brain tumors that are considered malignant. It is, of course, important to remember that not all tumors that develop in the brain are cancerous: meningiomas and tumors of the pituitary gland, for example, are typically benign and not malignant.

What are the known types of cancerous brain tumors currently defined in modern medical textbooks?

• Gliomas: One of the most common types of brain tumors, develop from glial cells, which are the cells that “envelop” the nerve cells in the central nervous system. While there are benign gliomas, in many cases, gliomas are malignant. Gliomas can develop in many places in the brain and along the spinal cord and can be divided into three main types: astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas and ependymomas.
• Meduloblastoma: a tumor that is most commonly found in children but can also appear in adults. It develops in the area of the cerebellum and is considered to be the most common malignant brain tumor in children.
• Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumors: are tumors that are considered to be relatively common in children and share many features with meduloblastomas. These tumors are highly malignant and usually develop in the area of the cerebrum.
• Lymphoma of the Central Nervous System: This type of malignant cancer is considered to be particularly aggressive, especially among patients with weak or damaged immune systems (e.g. patients with AIDS). The tumor originates from white blood cells known as B-lymphocytes.
• Tumors in the pineal gland: Tumors in this area, which is located behind the brain’s ventricles, are considered to be rare. The most common type of this kind of tumor is known as a germinoma. Additional types include pineocytoma and pineoblastoma.
• Metastases: Cancerous tumors that develop in various organs in the body can send out metastases (secondary cancerous tumors) to the central nervous system. The metastases have features that are similar to those of the original tumors from which they developed.

Remember that the different types of cancerous tumors can have very different symptoms – some of which are relatively minor and others that can be very significant. Aggressive cancerous tumors can cause terrible headaches, seizures, visual disturbances and cognitive disturbances. In more severe cases, the tumors can cause fainting, increased intracranial pressure, impaired drainage of fluid from the brain’s ventricles and even severe brain damage – all situations that can be life threatening.

Various Techniques for the Treatment of Brain Tumors

The treatment that you will receive will depend upon the type of cancerous tumor from which you suffer as well as its features. Therefore, the first and most important stage is diagnosis, which is performed using a range of imaging techniques that will allow the doctor to accurately examine the various structures in the brain.

At the Imaging Institute at the Herzliya Medical Center, there are advanced imaging modalities such as head CTs and MRIs that can provide your doctor with a clear picture regarding the extent of the tumor, its location and the manner in which it developed. Together, this information will allow your doctor to determine what type of tumor it is, and subsequently make it easier to select the proper treatment plan.

The optimal treatment plan for brain tumors involves surgery, but this option is selected only in cases where the tumor can be removed entirely or almost entirely. The operation is typically performed via a small opening in the skull or through the nostrils, under general anesthesia. During the operation the surgeons make use of advanced neurosurgical instruments that allow them to perform each procedure with the highest level of precision.

The doctors at the Neurosurgical Center for Excellence at the Herzliya Medical Center have the most advanced instrumentation in the world at their disposal, allowing their high level of skill to be fully utilized. This ensures that our patients receive the highest level of care in the operating room.

If the tumor cannot be removed, (due to its location, for example), or in cases where the surgery is not an option, the medical team can choose alternative treatment modalities, such as radiation, chemotherapy or the use of anti-seizure medications – medications used to treat epilepsy that can help decrease the occurrence of seizures that result from the tumor’s development.

Not infrequently, the doctor will choose a combination of treatment options in an effort to ensure the greatest chance of recovery.

Early diagnosis of cancerous tumors in the brain is critical for proper and effective treatment.

Contact us today at the Herzliya Medical Center to receive quick and professional diagnosis from the best physicians in the field.