Types of Brain Tumors

Types of brain tumors…

Brain tumors are cells that grow uncontrollably in the skull area. These tumors can form inside the brain as well as originate from the tissues around the brain and grow into the skull. Not all brain tumors are cancerous.

Brain tumors are basically separeted two different groups. These are Benign Tumors and Malignant Tumors. In addition, brain tumors are separeted different classes according to their shape and the region where they are formed.

Types of Benign Brain Tumors

Benign brain tumors do not contain cancerous cells. Does not usually repeat after surgical removal

• Chordomas: They grow slowly. It is more common between the ages of 50 and 60. It can press on neighbor nerves. It is a rarely type of tumor.

• Craniopharyngiomas: It originates from the pituitary gland. The patient usually needs pituitary hormone.

• Gangliocytomas: It is usually seen in young adults. It is a rarely brain tumor.

• Glomus jugulare: These are tumors that usually affect the ear, upper neck, skull base and surrounding vessels and nerves. It is a slowly growing tumor.

• Meningiomas: It is one of the most common brain tumors. 10-15% of brain tumors are usually meningiomas. It is mostly benign.

• Pineocytomas: Benign tumors originating from pineal cells.

• Pituitary adenomas: They are benign tumors in the pituitary gland and can disrupt pituitary functions.

• Schwannomas: They are common benign tumors. They originate from Schwann cells.

Types of Malignant Brain Tumors

Malignant brain tumors are more dangerous than benign brain tumors. It can be life threatening. It usually tends to spread quickly.

• Astrocytomas:  These are tumors originating from astrocytes. It is a common malignant tumor in adults.

• Ependymomas: Ependymal cells are the cells lining the ventricles and make up 2-3% of all brain tumors.

• Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM): They grow and spread rapidly. It usually has a bad course. It is more common in men.

• Medulloblastomas: It is the most common malignant brain tumor in childhood. It can spread to the spinal cord.

• Oligodendrogliomas: It can occur in the brain and spinal cord. It consists of oligodendrocytes. It can seen at any age. But mostly it is more common in adults.

Pediatric Brain Tumors

Brain tumors seen in children are different from those seen in adults.

The most common pediatric brain tumors are medulloblastoma, low-grade astrocytoma, ependymoma, craniopharyngioma, and brainstem gliomas.