Brain Tumours

Question 1

Who are brain tumours most common in?

Answer 1

Kids - 2nd most common cancer in children

Question 2

Describe the headache that you would get with brain malignancy

Answer 2

Wakes you up at night
Worse in morning
Can cause vomiting esp. in AM

Question 3

How is it investigated?

Answer 3

MRI

Question 4

Apart from headache what other symptoms may a patient have?

Answer 4

Seizures
Motor weakness
Progressive neurological deficit

Question 5

What is the most common cause of brain tumours?

Answer 5

METASTISES

Question 6

With someone with a growing tumour what is the best management?

Answer 6

Surgery

Question 7

Match each of the following terms to the grading of the tumour:
Grade I -> IV

Anaplastic astrocytoma
Glioblastoma multiforme
Pilocytic
Low grade astrocytoma

Answer 7

Grade I is good
Grade IV is bad

I - pilocytic
II - low grade astrocytoma
III - anaplastic astrocytoma
IV - glioblastoma multiforme

I + II - benign
III + IV - malignant

Question 8

what is the most common primary tumour?

What is the average survival time with it?

Answer 8

Grade IV - glioblastoma multiforme

14-5months

Question 9

What is the gold standard management for malignant tumours

Answer 9

1. Surgery - reduce symptoms

2. Chemo + RT

Question 10

Not all low grade gliomas become high grade so should wait for surgery. T/F?

Answer 10

F - ALL become high grade so best to safely resect

Question 11

What is done with the majority of schwannomas?

Answer 11

Left and observed

Question 12

What kind of tumours will appear in the midline in children?

What tumour markers should be done as a result?

Answer 12

Germline tumours - yolk sac etc.

AFP, bHCG and LDH of CSF and serum

(if negative need a biopsy)

Question 13

What other condition is associated with midline tumours?

Answer 13

Hydrocephalus