Brain tumours and raised ICP

Question 1

Brain tumours account for what percentage of malignant tumours and what percentage of childhood cases of cancer?

Answer 1

<2% of all malignant tumours are brain tumours

20% of all childhood cases are brain tumours

Question 2

Which group of brain tumours are the most common?

a. neuroepithelial
b. meningeal tumours
c. cranial nerve or spine tumours
d. lymphoma tumours

Answer 2

a. neuroepithelial (60%)

Question 3

What are 3 clinical manifestations of brain tumours

Answer 3

1. loss of function
2. seizures
3. raised ICP

Question 4

Which brain tumour are the most frequent primary brain tumour in adults and children?

Answer 4

Astrocytic tumours

Question 5

Are the majority of astrocytic tumours supratentorial or infratentorial?

Answer 5

Supratentorial

Question 6

Associations of astrocytic brain tumours

Answer 6

• ionising radiation
• rare familial syndromes
• no association with mobile phone use, environmental, tobacco use etc.
• asthma, autoimmune disorders and allergies seem to be protective but the pathophysiology remains unclear

Question 7

Do we grade brain tumours using the TNM classification?

Answer 7

No - use the WHO classification

Question 8

What are the most common sites of cancer which metastasise to the brain?

Answer 8

lung (45%)
breast (25%)
melanoma (12%)
GI tract
kidney

Question 9

What anatomical effects can a mass lesion have in the brain?

Answer 9

• Local deformity and shift of structures
• Decreased volume of CSF
• Pressure gradients: internal herniation
  
  • Lateral tentorial
  • Cerebellar tonsillar
  • Central transtentorial
  • Subfalcine cingulate