Chapter 20 - Brain and spinal tumors

Abstract

There hundreds of different brain and spinal tumors, with some usually being benign and others usually being malignant. Brain tumors are differentiated by their location and types of cells. Spinal tumors begin in the spinal cord or its covering, called the dura. Benign tumors include meningioma, astrocytoma, glioblastoma, oligodendroglioma, schwannoma, pituitary tumors, neurofibroma, hemangioblastoma, ependymal tumors, pineal tumors, chondroma, giant cell tumor, and osteoma. Malignant tumors include chordoma, chondrosarcoma, medulloblastoma, lymphomas, and gliosarcomas. In children, most brain tumors are germ cell tumors, though the most common one is medulloblastoma, which is not a germ cell tumor. General signs of brain tumors include vision changes, headaches, hearing changes, memory loss, sensory loss, seizures, language problems, behavioral changes, and arm or leg weakness. Spinal tumors are rare and may be intramedullary or extramedullary. The most common intramedullary tumors are gliomas, including the ependymomas and low-grade astrocytomas. Extramedullary tumors may be intradural or extradural. General signs and symptoms of spinal cord tumors include pain, motor weakness, sensory impairment, and bowel or bladder dysfunction. The most prevalent adult brain tumors are gliomas, while astrocytomas are the most common in children. The most common adult spinal tumor is ependymoma, while astrocytomas make up the most common spinal cord tumors in children. Most brain and spinal tumors are more common with increased age.