INFORMATION ON BRAIN AND SPINAL CORD TUMORS

Unusual growth of tissues which originates inside the skull or the bony spinal column is termed as brain and spinal cord tumors. Both abnormal growths which are new (Neoplasms) and those already present at birth (congenital tumors) are termed as tumor.

If the cells that make up the growth are equivalent to other normal cells, grow comparatively slowly, and are restrained to one location no matter where they are located they are classed as benign. When these cells are distinctive from normal cells, comparatively grow quickly, and could spread quickly to other locations these tumors are called malignant (or cancerous).

Benign tumors are not distinctly harmful in most parts of the body but this fact is not inevitably true in the brain and spinal cord as they are the primary components of the central nervous system (CNS).

CAUSES OF BRAIN AND SPINAL CORD TUMORS

Risk of developing lymphomas of the brain or spinal cord is usually more in People with impaired immune systems. Though majority of brain tumors are not associated with any risk factors, most brain tumors simply happen for no obvious reason. Only a few risk factors related with brain cancer are known. Children who received radiation to the brain as part of their treatment for leukemia can be the most common occurrence of radiation-induced brain tumors. This expansion of new brain tumors usually occurs around 10 to 15 years after the radiation. Because of this fact (as well as other side effects of radiation therapy), this treatment is only given after careful consideration of benefits and risks.

SYMPTOMS OF BRAIN AND SPINAL CORD TUMORS

1. You may have Headaches. Because the skull cannot expand, the growing mass places pressure on pain-sensitive areas so usually people with brain tumors have headaches. These headaches may occur at regular intervals often at irregular periods, and can last for several minutes or hours. These headaches becomes worse on coughing, changing posture, or when you strain yourself too much. These headaches may last longer, become more frequent, and grow more severe as the size of tumor increases.
2. You may have Nausea and vomiting. Nausea and vomiting may occur due to increased pressure within the skull . These symptoms are accompanied by headaches most of the time.
3. You may have Vision or hearing problems. People with brain and spinal cord tumors may have blurred vision, double vision, or partial visual loss. This may occur due to increased intracranial pressure which decreases blood flow in the eye and elicits swelling of the optic nerve, which in turn causes brain and spinal cord tumors grow on or near sensory nerves and causes visual or hearing disturbances, such as ringing or buzzing sounds, abnormal eye movements or crossed eyes, and partial or total loss of vision or hearing.
4. Behavioral and cognitive symptoms. Behavioral and cognitive symptoms usually occur when the tumor is located in the brain's cerebral hemispheres. Behavior and personality of a person changes which is the most frightening and adverse, symptoms of a brain tumor as it strikes at the core of the individual's identity. A person may have problems with speech, language, thinking, and memory, or psychotic episodes and changes in personality.
5. Motor problems.:- Motor problems includes weakness or paralysis, lack of coordination, or trouble with walking. Often, muscle weakness or paralysis may affect only one side of the body.
6. Balance problems. As the normal control of equilibrium are disrupted by Brain tumors it can cause dizziness or difficulty with balance.
7. The flow of electricity allows the brain cells to communicate. This normal flow can be interrupted by the abnormal tissue found in a brain tumor which, in turn, disturbs the electrical neuronal activity. In such conditions, the person loses control over his/her physical and/or mental behavior.

TREATMENT OF BRAIN AND SPINAL CORD TUMORS

Treatment of any type of cancer within central nervous system depends on the age of a patient, type of tumor and the accurate location of the tumor. CNS is the place from where various types of tumors initiate.

Surgery: This is the first step in most cases as surgical removal of the tumor is safe without destroying normal function. Tumors may be cured by both surgical removal alone or by surgery combined with radiation therapy. These tumors include meningiomas, some ependymomas, gangliogliomas, and cerebellar astrocytomas. Few Tumors such as anaplastic astrocytomas or glioblastomas cannot be cured by surgery because cells from the tumor get too far into the normal surrounding brain tissue.

Biopsy: Sometimes when a surgery is not a good choice because the tumor is located in portions of the brain with important function, or because the patient is unable to tolerate a major operation needle biopsy is best suited for such patients. Surgery is usually avoided as parts of the brain necessary for life could be destroyed. This usually happens with brain stem tumors.

Craniotomy: Craniotomy is very familiar to a neurosurgeon and is used to treat brain tumors and a number of other brain abnormalities. Surgical opening made in the skull is Craniotomy. With the help of anesthesia the patient is put into a deep sleep, the head is shaved and an incision made in the skin. The scalp is folded back to expose the bone and small holes are drilled in the skull with a power drill. The surgeon then connects the holes with a surgical saw. This way a piece of the skull bone can be removed.

A surgeon can, with no trouble, enter more than one instrument to study the parts of brain, this is very crucial to perform a successful operation. A tiny slit is made into the brain so that the surgeon can reach the tumor. To locate the tumor and its edges, diagnosis procedures like MRI, CT or ultrasound image can be very useful for a surgeon.

Shunt placement: Shunts are silicone tubes -- with valves used to control the quantity and course of flow -- that drain the excess fluid from the head into neck veins, the heart, the chest, or abdomen. Shunts are placed to bypass a blockage of the flow of cerebrospinal fluid. This blockage can cause the fluid to build up within the brain, leading to a life-threatening increase in pressure on vital parts of the brain. Shunt placement is usually an uncomplicated procedure that normally takes less than an hour. Like any other operation, complications may develop, such as bleeding or infection. Some shunts get "clogged" and need to be replaced.

Radiation Therapy: The therapeutic use of ionising radiation to eradicate the remaining cancer cells that are beyond the scope of the treatment through surgical procedures is known as Radiation therapy - also known as radiotherapy(not to be mistaken for radiology ). An external source beams the radiation exactly on the tumor or a radioactive substance is placed within the tumor.

A doctor who specialise in the treatment of tumors using radiations is referred to as oncologist. An oncologist tries that the site surrounding the tumor should get the lowest possible amount of dose so as to minimise the possible harm to the normal brain tissue.

Other Drug Treatments:
Often to reduce the bulge that often occurs around brain tumors cortisone-like drugs such as dexamethasone (Decadron) are given. This relieves headaches and other symptoms. To prevent seizures drugs may be prescribed, which happen often in people with brain tumors. diphenylhydantoin (Dilantin) is the drug that is most often prescribed. If the pituitary has been damaged directly by the spread of the tumor, or by treatments (surgery or radiation therapy) it may be necessary to replace some or most of the pituitary hormones.