Tumors of the Nervous System Flashcards
primary brain tumors
arise from within the CNS (glia, neurons, meninges)
tentorial
most primary brain tumors are infra in kids, supra in adults
metastatic brain tumors
- spread from other organs or tissue outside the CNS such as breast or lung ca
- m/c occur from systemic cancers of the lung, breast, colon, kidney, or melanoma
malignant brain tumors
-microscopically less differentiated and invade nml surrounding tissue
benign brain tumors
- microscopically more differentiated and encapsulated or isolated from surrounding nml tissue
- slower growth and less or no tendency to spread
what suggests increased ICP
HA, n/v, somnolence, obtundation
gliomas, the mc type of primary brain tumor
- astrocytomas
- ependymomas
- medulloblastomas
- oligodendrogliomas
astrocytomas
- arise from astrocytes
- most malig is : GBM
ependymomas
- arise from ependymal cells lining the ventricles
- most often occur in posterior fossa in children
- commonly obstructs 4th ventricle
- develop in the filum terminale of the sc in adults
medulloblastomas
-arise from neuroepithelial roof of 4th ventricle in kids
oligodendrogliomas
- originate from oliogodendrocytes
- often involve frontal lobes in adults
benign primary brain tumors
- more spherical and homogenous
- show uniform enhancement
metastatic brain tumors on CT
-multiple spherical tumors at the gray-white matter junction of the cerebral cortex, often with surrounding edema (dec with dex)
meningeal carcinomatosis
- syndrome where cancer cells spread throughout the CSF depositing over different areas of cerebral cortex, CN or spinal nerve roots
- cytological analysis of the CSF confirms diagnosis
- intrathecal chemo is some help
whats the most common benign brain tumor
-meningiomas arising from arachnoid over the parasagittal falx, cerebral convexities, sphenoidal ridge and olfactory groove
