Overview
A brain tumor is a disease in which a cancerous or non-cancerous growth or mass of abnormal cells can be found in the brain. Brain tumors can be malignant or benign, leading to brain damage and can be life-threatening.
Different types of brain tumors exist, and the growth of brain tumors varies greatly due to the tumor’s type. According to studies in India, brain tumors affect 5 to 10 people in every 100000 population.
Self Checks
Some significant symptoms and signs help you detect the presence of tumors in the brain. They are as follows.
- Fatigue
- Drowsiness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Severe Headache during the time of activities.
- Sleep problems as well as memory changes
- Sometimes face a change in sensation, smell, or loss of consciousness in hearing
- Partial or total loss of awareness and consciousness
- Lost the control of body functions and sudden involuntary movements
Physical Examination
Physical examinations allow the doctors to get detailed information about the tumor and make the treatment process effective for patients. Neurological examinations and vision and hearing exams are included in brain tumor detection.
Coordination problems, jerking movements of your eyes, and an examination of your eyes using an ophthalmoscope can reveal swelling that shreds of evidence prove the presence of tumors in the brain.
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Imaging
Imaging is a process that helps detect the size, location, and characteristics of the different types of tumors. Glioblastoma multiforme is a large type of tumor that spreads in the brain’s different areas. Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Computed Tomography are the most efficient tests to detect brain tumors.
Through these processes, a fluid material is injected that surrounds the tumor areas and helps detect the edges of tumors. Other tests such as Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Functional MRI are used to detect the metabolic activities due of brain tumors.
A Positron emission test is similar to a CT scan, which helps detect microscopic changes in blood flow and oxygen consumption, evidence of brain tumors.
Labs and tests
Blood tests, lumbar punctures, and biopsies are the tests through which we can detect the presence of tumors in the brain.
Read Also – Brain Tumor Surgery Cost in India?
Hormone blood tests
Some brain tumors, such as Pituitary tumors, secret an abnormal hormone that helps detect the tumor’s presence if there is a high suspicion of any growth hormone that also produces brain tumors.
Lumbar Puncture
This test helps to identify infections, inflammation, or cancer cells. If you have carcinomatosis, it indicates the presence of cancer cells that can spread anywhere else in the body.
However, it is not a reliable test to evaluate brain cancer because cancer cells sometimes do not appear in CSF. If you have a large brain tumor, the alteration of fluid flow from an LP can cause dangerous movements in the brain.
Biopsy
Biopsy is the major and most efficient process to detect brain tumors. We can understand the characteristics, sensitivity, and treatment procedures needed for the tumors through this test.
Brain tumor biopsy is a surgical procedure involving removing a section of the skull to access the brain tissue. The biopsy is no less invasive than brain surgery as there is a risk of bleeding or swelling in the brain after the procedure, even if the tumor is small.
Differential diagnoses
To detect the brain tumor and for proper treatment, Differential diagnoses are necessary as they help differentiate between brain tumors and other neurological conditions or brain diseases.
- Brain Abscess: It is an infection in an enclosed area of the brain. Sometimes the symptoms of these infections can be similar to the brain tumors, but different imaging studies help differentiate between the tumors and these infections.
- Encephalitis: Inflammation of the brain caused by an infection that causes various symptoms depending on the area of the brain.
- Neurosarcoid: This is an inflammatory disease similar to TB meningitis. These are spots that can be seen on brain imaging. These are safe as they tend to be small and can show inflammatory cells characteristic of neurosarcoid.
- Tuberculosis meningitis: An uncommon infection appears as spots on imaging tests. These are smaller and greater in number than brain tumors. This can be diagnosed by an LP wherever it occurs in the body.
Treatment
After detecting the size, position, and characteristics of tumors, various processes of treatments are applied.
– Surgery:
Almost all tumors can be removed through surgery, but surgery will not work in some cases. When the tumors are located near the sensitive areas, surgery may be risky in those cases, and you may face nervous problems or other problems. According to studies, currently, surviving chances of surgery for brain tumors is around 36% when we talk about malignant brain tumors but is 100% in benign brain tumors.
– Radiotherapy:
Through x-rays or protons, we can kill the tumor cells. Radiation therapy can reduce the spread of cancer cells, and it is only applied to the area where the tumor is located.
– Chemotherapy for brain tumor:
some drugs are used to kill cancer cells which can be taken as pills or injected into the vein.
Also read – What is Chemotherapy For Brain Tumor?
– Radiosurgery:
It uses multiple radiation beams to give high radiation treatment that helps kill cancer cells in a small area.
– Rehabilitation after treatment:
After the treatment, rehabilitation is necessary.
- Various physical therapy helps to recover from the after-effects of treatments.
- Speech therapy also helps to overcome the difficulty in speaking.
- Occupational therapy also helps get back to normal life and overcome the illness.
What to expect from your doctor?
A brain tumor patient always expects the proper diagnosis and effective treatment from the doctor. A doctor should treat them efficiently and support them mentally and always select the actual treatment method and make comfort zone during treatment. They should suggest a proper diet and also give appropriate medicine for recovery.
Why Choose us?
An efficient doctor can easily detect our problem; if anyone is suffering from brain tumors, they can detect it through various tests and provide us with the best treatment to combat this disease and provide medicines that increase immunity and help fight against the disease survive.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is a brain tumor?
A brain tumor is a disease in which a cancerous or non-cancerous growth or mass of abnormal cells can be found in the brain.
2. How long does a brain tumor take to grow?
Brain tumors grow slowly; sometimes, it takes months and years to grow.
3. What are the chances of surviving brain cancers?
According to research, 5 years survival rate for a specific type of brain tumor is 70% which is only for adult brain and spinal cord tumors.
4. Can brain tumors spread?
The brain tumor is a type of cancer, although brain cancer spreads rarely. It can spread to other parts of your brain and central nervous system.
5. How often do brain tumors come back?
24 to 32 chances that brain tumors can return in 15 years even when the original tumor is completely removed.
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About Author
Dr. Eshan Nerkar
Neurologist And Neurosuegeon
Dr. Eshan Nerkar, Consultant Brain & Spine Surgeon in Nashik specializes in Spine Surgery. He practices at AXON Brain & Spine Clinic. He is one of the best neurosurgeons in Nashik with more than 10 years of experience. He has performed more than 1000 surgeries related to brain and spinal surgery procedures.
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