WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF BRAIN TUMORS?

A brain tumor is usually a term for a collection, or mass, of abnormal cells in the brain. Brain tumors can be either cancerous (malignant) or non-cancerous (benign). When benign or malignant tumors grow, they may cause the pressure inside the skull to increase. This can cause brain damage, and it can be fatal.
Brain tumors can be categorized as primary or secondary. A primary brain tumor originates in the brain. Most primary brain tumors are benign. A secondary brain tumor, also called a metastatic brain tumor, occurs when the cancer cells spread to the brain from another organ, such as cancer affected lung or breast.
Primary Brain Tumors
Primary brain tumors originate in the brain. They can develop from:
Brain cells
The surrounding membranes around the brain, called meninges
Nerve cells
Glands
Primary tumors may be benign or malignant. In adults, the most usual types of brain tumors are gliomas and meningiomas.
Gliomas are tumors that develop from glial cells. These glial cells:
support the structure of your central nervous system
provide nutrition to the central nervous system
break down the dead neurons
clean cellular waste
The types of tumors that begin in glial cells are:
Astrocytic tumors such as Astrocytomas, that originate in the cerebrum and is often benign
Oligodendroglial tumors, which are usually found in the frontal temporal lobes
Glioblastomas, originate from the supportive brain tissue and are most aggressive
Meningiomas, those originating in the meninges
Schwannomas, which originates in the cells that produce the protective cover of nerves (myelin sheath) called Schwann cells
Most of meningiomas and schwannomascases occur in people between the ages of 40 and 70. Meningiomasmore often occur in women than in men. Schwannomascan occur equally in both men and women. Usually these tumors are benign, but maylead to complications because of their size and location. Cancerous meningiomas and schwannomas can turn very aggressive.
Other Primary Brain Tumors
Other primary brain tumors include:
Pituitary tumors, which are usually benign
Ependymomas, usually benign
Pineal gland tumors, which can be either benign or malignant
Craniopharyngiomas, which mostly occurin children and are benign and may have symptoms like changes in vision and premature puberty
Primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphomas, which are always malignant
Primary brain lymphomas, which are malignant
Primary germ cell tumors of the brain, which can be either benign or malignant
Secondary Brain Tumors
Secondary brain tumors make up the majority of brain cancers cases. They start in one part of the body and spread to the brain. The following cancers can lead to the brain:
lung cancer
breast cancer
skin cancer
kidney cancer
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