31A Adult Brain Tumors Flashcards
What is the plateau wave phenomenon?
- with tumor growth, cranial pressure incr
- eventually, small changes in MAP (due to volume or pressure) = large incr in ICP
- this will affect perf –> focal deficits, MS changes, seizures, etc
General signs/symptoms of CNS tumors?
- HA (incr ICP)
- vomiting (+/- nausea)
- MS changes (depr, apathy, irritability)
- papilledema (MC in kids, young adults)
- seizures
- focal deficits
What HA symptoms should prompt tumor concerns?
- new onset at any age
- worse on wakening, gone in ~hr
- change in character or severity (if chronic)
What vomiting symptoms should prompt tumor concerns?
immediately follows HA onset
What causes the signs/symptoms associated with CNS tumors?
- invasion of neural or vasc structures
- compression of adjacent neural or vasc structures
- Obstr of CNS pathways –> hydrocephalus (incr ICP)
- herniation from mass effect
- cerebral hypoperfusion (incr ICP)
Involvement and pressure on blood vessels can result in:
hemorrhage or CVA
Subfalcine herniation of cingulate gyrus may compress:
anterior cerebral artery and CVA
Diencephalic downward herniation can compress:
Symptoms?
upper brainstem
drowsiness + Horner’s
Uncal herniation causes:
ipsilateral oculomotor nerve palsy and contra or ipsilateral hemiparesis
Upward herniation through tentorium may cause:
ipsilateral oculomotor, Horner (mid position unreactive pupil) and contralateral hemiparesis
Tonsillar herniation causes:
BP changes, weakness, respiratory disturbance, weakness and Horner syndrome
Study of choice when tumor is suspected?
MRI
but CT is more helpful in defining tumor pathology
In T2 MRI, (edema/tumor) spares the cortex
edema
MC 1’ adult tumor?
gliomas
Subtypes of glioma?
astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma, ependymoma
Grade 1 glioma?
Grade 2?
Grade 3?
Grade 4?
1 = juvenile pilocystic astrocytoma 2 = low grade astrocytoma 3 = anaplastic astrocytoma 4 = glioblastoma multiforme
MC type of glioma?
glioblastoma multiforme
Low-grade tumors are MC in:
High-grade tumors are MC in:
younger pts
>50 yo
Grade 1 Glioma:
Malignancy?
Histo?
Trx?
least malig and slow growing
non-infiltrative, ~nml
resection (likely curative)
Grade 2 Glioma:
Malignancy?
Histo?
Trx?
~ slow growing
more abn w/ Rosenthal fibers, can infiltrate
resection, but can recur–sometimes higher grade
(cure unlikely, but survival over many yrs)