What is Brain Tumor? And Types of Brain Tumors
What is Brain Tumor? Generally a tumor is formed when abnormal cells are formed within the brain. There are two types of tumors
1. Malignant or Cancerous Tumors
2. Benign Tumors
Malignant tumors can be divided into primary tumors, which start from brain and secondary tumors, which spread from somewhere else, known as brain metastasis tumors.
Benign tumors are non cancerous tumors. Unlike cancer tumors, they do not spread to other parts of the body. Benign tumors start from different parts or anywhere from the body.
Types of Brain Tumors
Common Types of Brain Tumors among Adults are:
1. Astrocytoma:
This tumor arises from gilal cells called astrocytes. This tumor arises commonly in cerebrum; the intensity can be any grade.
2. Meningioma:
Generally this tumor forms on membranes that cover the brain and spinalcord. These tumors are slow growing and mostly occur in brain. In rare cases they also grow on spinal cord. These tumors are more often in women than men.
A small number of meningiomas are cancerous; generally meningiomas tend to grow rapidly. These tumors can also spread to other parts of body beyond brain and more often to lungs.
3. Oligodendroglioma:
These tumors generally occur in cerebrum, often seen in middle-aged adults. Oligodendrogliomas are generally soft; grayish-pink I color tumors, which contain mineral deposits called calcifications. Sometimes these tumors are mixed with other cell types. The intensity of these tumors can be grade II or grade III.
Common Types of Brain Tumors in children:
1. Medulloblastoma:
Generally this tumor arises in cerebrum. In other this tumor is also called as primitive neuroectodermal tumor, a grade IV tumor. It is fast growing and a high-grade tumor. The various types of medulloblastoma are:
a) medullomyoblastoma
b) melanotic medulloblastoma
c) classic medulloblastoma
d) desmoplastic medullaoblastoma
2. Ependymoma:
Ependymomas are soft, red, or grayish tumors which contain mineral calcifications. The various types of the ependymomas appear in different locations of brain and spinal cord. Different types of Ependymoma include:
a) Subependymomas ( grade1)
b) Myxopapillary ependymomas (grade 1)
c) Ependymomas (grade II)
d) Anaplastic ependymomas (grade III), which is rapid growing tumor.
3. Brain stem giloma:
The tumor occurs in the lowest part of the brain. It can be a low-grade or high- grade tumor. The most common type is diffuse intrinsic pontine giloma.
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