Brain Tumours Flashcards
Benign brain tumour
Meningioma
Malignant brain tumour
Glioblastomas
Frontal lobe tumour presentation
Unusual change in personality and behaviour
Presentation of raised ICP
Papilloedema- fundoscopy Headache Vomiting Confusion Visual field defects Seizures Unilateral ptosis 3rd and 6th nerve palsy
Red flag features of the headache
Constant Nocturnal Worse on waking Worse on coughing, straining and bending forward Vomiting
Papilloedema
Swelling of the optic disc secondary to raised intracranial pressure
Fundoscopic changes
Blurring of the optic disc margin Elevated optic disc Loss of venous pulsation Engorged retinal veins Haemorrhages around the optic disc Paton’s lines - creases in the retina around the optic disc
Causes of raised ICP
Brain tumour
Intracranial bleed
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension
Abscesses or infection
Secondary metastases to the brain
Breast
Lung
Renal cell carcinoma
Melanoma
Gliomas
Tumours of the glial cells in the brain or spinal cord
Most malignant - astrocytoma
Oligodendroglioma
Least malignant - ependymoma
Pituitary tumour complications
Compress the optic chiasm - bilateral hemianopia
Hypopituitarism
Excessive hormones:
- GH - acromegaly
- prolactin - hyperprolactinaemia - gynaecomastia
- ACTH - Cushing’s disease
- TSH - Thyrotoxicosis
Acoustic neuroma pathophysiology
Benign tumour of the Schwann cells surrounding the facial nerve that innervates the ear
Occurs at the cerebellopontine angle
Slow growing
Which condition is associated with bilateral acoustic neuromas
Neurofibromatosis type 2
Presentation of acoustic neuroma
Hearing loss
Tinnitus
Balance problems (vertigo)
Associated with a facial nerve palsy
Management options of brain tumours
Palliative care
Chemotherapy
Radiotherapy
Surgery
