Tumours of the nervous system Flashcards
How common are brain cancers in children?
The second most common cancer in children
What is Basal Naevus Syndrome (Gorlin Syndrome)?
Rare genetic condition affecting the skin, endocrine system, nervous system, eyes and bones.
Associated with the development of basal cell carcinoma in adolescence or young adulthood.
Other cancers associated with the syndrome are medulloblastoma, breast cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and ovarian cancer.
What is Li Fraumeni Syndrome?
Soft tissue sarcoma - cancers associated with this syndrome are brain tumours, breast cancer leukaemias, and adrenocortical cancer.
What is the leading cause of death in children under the age of 15 years old?
Brain tumours
How many children died from a brain or other tumour in 2015-2017? CRUK
236
What percentage of primary malignant lesions are CNS tumours?
9%
What is the aetiology of brain tumours?
Unknown
What are possible carcinogens?
Radiotherapy to the head (ionising radiation) – always chance of secondary malignancy
Hairdressers and those using hair dye have been claimed to be at greater risk
Chemicals used in the rubber industry
Head injury
History of previous exposure to toxoplasma bacteria
Neurofibromatosis or Turcot’s syndrome
Swedish study found those in the higher socioeconomic groups were greater risk of glioma
What is Von Hippel Lindau Syndrome?
A protein which causes certain cells to behave abnormally and appear to be starved of oxygen. The result of this is that blood vessels grow around the affected cells which can develop into benign tumours or cysts (sometimes malignant)
ACE Angiotensin converting enzyme – causes hypertension
What is the percentage of developing Von Hippel Lindau Syndrome is one of your parents has it?
50%
What is Phaechromocytoma?
Tumour of the adrenal medulla which produce ACE Angiotensin converting enzyme
What is Turcot syndrome?
When colon polyposis or adenocarcinoma are diagnosed with medulloblastoma or glioblastoma the patient can be suspected as having Turcot syndrome
When can Turcot syndrome develop?
1st/2nd decade of life
What is Tuberous Sclerosis?
Raised papules in the skin which can resemble acne
TSC may cause tumours to form in various organs. In addition to the skin, growths may occur in the brain, eyes, heart, kidney, and lungs
Tumour - Benign or Malignant - Treatment (Neurological tissue)
Glioma - Malignant - Grade I-II Surgery
Tumour - Benign or Malignant - Treatment (Astrocytes)
Astrocytoma - Malignant - Grade I-II Surgery
Tumour - Benign or Malignant - Treatment (Oligodendrocytes)
Oligodendroglioma - Malignant - Grade III-IV Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy (surgery)
Tumour - Benign or Malignant - Treatment (Glio…)
Glioblastoma - Malignant - Grade III-IV Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy (surgery)
Tumour - Benign or Malignant - Treatment (Ependymal Cells)
Ependymoma - Benign - Surgery (radiotherapy)
Ependymoblastoma - Malignant - Radiotherapy
Tumour - Benign or Malignant - Treatment (Sheath of Nerve Cells)
Neurofibroma - Benign - Surgery
Neurolemmoma - Malignant - Surgery (radiotherapy)
Tumour - Benign or Malignant - Treatment (Meninges)
Meingioma - Benign - Surgery (radiotherapy)
Menigiosarcoma - Malignant - Surgery