Brain Tumours Flashcards
How does a brain tumour most commonly present?
Progressive neurological deficit
What are the symptoms of increased intracranial pressure?
Headaches
Vomiting
Mental changes
Seizures
What drug are patients commonly given to relieve cranial pressure?
Mannitol
What are some of the red flags of headache?
Wakes them up
Worse with coughing
Associated with vomiting
A tumour in the frontal lobe can cause patients to repeat behaviour. What is this known as?
Perseveration
A tumour in the parietal lobe presents with what sign?
Dyspraxia
What signs of brain cancer require urgent referral?
Progressive neurological deficit
Progressive deterioration in cognitive function
New seizure
Headache
What are the main investigations done in brain cancer?
CT
MRI
Where does the commonest tumour in the brain come from?
Metastases
Glial tumours arise from which cell type?
Astrocytes
Oligodendroglial cells
An astrocytic grade I tumour most commonly occurs in which age group?
Children
Astrocytic grade II tumour is pre-malignant/malignant
Pre-malignant
What is the name of an astrocytic grade IV tumour?
Glioblastoma multiforme
How is a grade I astrocytoma treated?
Surgery
How do patients with low grade (II) astrocytomas present?
Seizures
What are some poor prognostic signs of low grade astrocytomas?
Age >50
Focal deficit
Raised ICP
Altered consciousness
How are low grade astrocytomas treated?
Surgery +/- radio/chemo
Low grade astrocytomas can become which tumour?
Glioblastoma
What are the main types of malignant astrocytomas?
Anaplastic astrocytoma
Glioblastoma multiforme
How are malignant astrocytomas treated?
Non-curative surgery
Post-op radiotherapy
Oligodendroglial tumours tend to affect which lobe?
Frontal
How do oligodendroglial tumours present?
Seizures
How can oligodendroglial tumours be distinguished from astrocytomas?
Calcification on MRI
How are oligodendroglial tumours treated?
Chemotherapy mainly
Surgery
What are the main symptoms of meningiomas?
Headache
Cranial nerve neuropathy
What are the five types of aggressive meningioma?
Clear cell Chordoid Rhabdoid Atypical Papillary
What can be done to ease the resection of a meningioma?
Embolisation of vascular supply
How is meningioma treated?
Preop embolisation
Surgery
Radiotherapy
What is the main nerve sheath tumour?
Schwannoma
Any child with a midline tumour must be checked for what?
Beta HCG
AFP
PLAP
