What are the different types of brain tumors?
Brain tumors are masses of abnormal cells in your brain. There are several types of brain tumors, including:
Primary brain tumors
These tumors originate in your brain, including in your brain cells, nerve cells, glands, or meninges. Primary tumors can be benign or cancerous. The most common types of brain tumors are gliomas and meningiomas.
Secondary brain tumors
Secondary brain tumors originate elsewhere in your body and metastasize to your brain. For example, cancer in your lungs, breasts, kidneys, or skin can spread to your brain. These tumors are almost always malignant.
Your risk of developing a brain tumor increases with age. Other risk factors include your family history and exposure to chemicals or radiation.
What are the warning signs of brain tumors?
Some of the common warning signs of a brain tumor include:
- Headaches that are worse when you wake up
- Vomiting
- Blurred or double vision
- Confusion
- Seizures
- Weakness in part of your face or a limb
- Changed mental function
How are brain tumors treated?
The physicians at CarePoint Neurosurgery and Spine begin with a comprehensive exam and brain scans to confirm your condition and identify the precise location of your brain tumor.
The neurosurgeons use state-of-the-art surgical techniques and technology to treat or remove brain tumors. Depending on your specific condition, your surgeon might recommend:
Gamma knife radiosurgery
This minimally invasive technique delivers focused beams of radiation to a precise location in your brain. This treatment doesn’t require an incision, but successfully and safely treats tumors and other brain abnormalities.
Craniotomy
A craniotomy is a surgical procedure to remove diseased brain tissue. The surgeons might use this procedure to diagnose the cause of symptoms like seizures and extract cancerous tissue. They might combine craniotomy with laser ablation treatments.
Call CarePoint Neurosurgery and Spine to make an appointment for expert brain tumor treatment.
