Brain Tumours Flashcards
what can worse the headache that brain tumours often preset with?
worse in the morning
coughing
leaning forward
how many grades of astrocytic tumours are there?
four
what is a grade one astrocytic tumour called?
pilocytic
what is a grade two astrocytic tumour called?
low grade astrocytoma
what is a grade three astrocytic tumour called?
anaplastic astrocytoma
what is a grade four astrocytic tumour called?
glioblastoma multiforme
who gets grade I astrocytic tumours?
children and young adults
is a grade I astrocytic tumour benign or malignant?
benign
what four locations can be affected by grade I astrocytic tumours?
optic nerve
hypothalamus
cerebellum
brainstem
what is the treatment of choice for grade I astrocytic tumours?
surgery
it is curative
what are the three types of grade II astrocytic tumours?
fibrillary
gemistocytic
protoplasmic
what areas of the brain tend to be affected by grade II astrocytic tumours?
temporal lobe
posterior frontal lobe
anterior parietal lobe
how can grade II astrocytic tumours present?
seizures
what happens to grade II astrocytic tumours over time?
dedifferentiate into high grade malignancies as they are not benign
what is the treatment for grade II astrocytic tumours?
surgery and any of:
- radio
- chemo
- combined radio and chemo
- follow up serial imaging
are anaplastic astrocytomas benign or malignant?
malignant
what is the median survival with anaplastic astrocytomas?
two years
what is the most common primary brain tumour?
glioblastoma multiforme
what is the median survival with glioblastoma multiforme?
under a year
how do glioblastoma multiforme spread?
through white matter and CSF pathways
what treatment can be done for glioblastoma multiforme?
non curative surgery to improve QoL
what part of the brain is affected by oligodendroglial tumours?
frontal lobes
what age group is most commonly affected by oligodendroglial tumours?
adults 25-45
how do oligodendroglial tumours present?
seizures
are oligodendroglial tumours benign or malignant?
low grade benign but can undergo malignant conversion
how are oligodendroglial tumours managed?
surgery and chemotherapy
what is the median survival in oligodendroglial tumours?
ten years
how do the majority of meningiomas present?
asymptomatic
which sex is more commonly affected by meningiomas?
female
how can meningiomas present?
headaches
regional anatomical disturbances
how can meningiomas present if they affect the base of the skull?
cranial nerve neuropathies
are meningiomas malignant or benign?
the vast majority are benign
what are the four types of meningiomas?
classic
angioblastic
atypical
malignant
how are meningiomas managed?
preoperative embolisation
surgery
radiotherapy
name three nerve sheath tumours
schwannomas
neurofibromas
malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours
what is another name for a Schwannoma
neuroma
what is another name for an acoustic neuroma?
vestibular schwannoma
what condition are acoustic neuromas associated with?
neurofibromatosis II
how do acoustic neuromas present?
hearing loss
tinnitus
disequilibrium
what investigations are done for acoustic neuroma?
audiometry
radiology
how are acoustic neuromas managed?
radiation
surgery
what type of tumour are pineal tumours?
germ cell
who is usually affected by pineal tumours?
people under the age of 20
what imaging can be done for pineal tumours?
CT scan
how can pineal tumours metastasise?
via the CSF
what are the two main groups of pineal tumours?
germinomas
non germinomas
what is the most common CNS germ cell tumour?
germinomas
how can germinomas be managed?
radiation
name four non germinomatous pineal tumours
teratoma
yolk sac tumour
choriocarcinoma
embryonal carcinoma
