Brain Tumour Flashcards
ESSENCE
Abnormal growths within the brain
Tumours vary from benign (eg meningiomas) to highly malignant (eg gliobastomas)
Common types of brain tumours
- Secondary metastasis
- Gliomas
- Maningiomas
- Pituitary tumours
- Acoustic neuroma
CLINICAL FEATURES
Presentation
- Often do not have symptoms when small
- As develop present with focal neurological symptoms depending on location of tumour
- Often presents with signs of raised intracranial pressure
4 most common metastasis to brain
- Lung
- Breast
- Renal cell carcinoma
- Melanoma
What are gliomas
Tumours of glial cells in brain or spinal cord
3 types of gliomas from most to least malignant
- Astrocytoma (gliobastoma multiforme is most common)
- Oligodendroglioma
- Ependymoma
Grading of gliomas
- From 1-4
- 1 are most benign and possibly curable with surgery
- 4 are most malignant (glioblastoma)
What are meningiomas
Tumours from cells of meninges
Usually benign, but take up space leading to raised ICP and neurological symptoms
Pituitary tumours benign or malig
Usually benign
Effects of pituitary tumours
- When large press on optic chiasm causing bitemporal hemianopia (loss of outer half of visual field of both eyes)
- Hormone deficiencies (hypopituitarism) or excessive hormones leading to
- Acromegaly
- Hyperprolactinaemia
- Cushings disease
- Thyrotoxicosis
What is acoustic neuroma
Tumours of Schwann cells surrounding the auditory nerve
Occur around cerebellopontine angle
Clinical features acoustic neuroma
- Usually unilateral, bilateral is associated with neurofibromatosis type 2
- Classic triad symptoms
- Hearing loss
- Tinnitus
- Balance problems
- Can be associated with facial nerve palsy
Acoustic neuroma also called
Vestibular schwannoma
MANAGEMENT
Management options for brain tumours
- Dependent on type of tumour and grade
- Palliative care
- Chemotherapy
- Radiotherapy
- Surgery
MANAGEMENT
Treatment of pituitary tumours
- Trans-sphenoidal surgery
- Radiotherapy
- Bromocriptine to block prolactin-secreting tumours
- Somatostain analogues (eg ocreotide) to block growth hormone secreting tumours
