Brain Tumors

Neurons or Glial cells?

Neurons

• Rarely, if ever responsible for tumors – Don’t reproduce

Gliomas arise from glial cells

• Different types of gliomas:– Astrocytic tumors include astrocytomas (less

malignant), anaplastic astrocytomas, and glioblastomas (most malignant)

– Oligodendroglial tumors vary in malignancy

– Glioblastomas are the most aggressive type of primary brain tumor

Meningiomas

• Arise from arachnoidal cells– One of three meniges that compose membrane

that covers brain and spinal cord. However, these tumors are mostly (90%) benign

Level of severity

• Tumors are graded on multiple factors:– Growth rate– Blood supply– Malignancy– Border distinctness

*The ultimate determining factor in classifying tumors is the cell of highest malignancy, even if the overall composition of the tumor is of lesser malignancy.

Diagnosis

• Balance, vision, hearing, and reflex tests are conducted to help diagnose brain tumors

• MRI’s used with contrast dye are subsequently performed to find tumors and detect their locations.

Treatment

• Open cranial surgery

• Radiosurgery– Many beams of targeted radiation focus on the

tumor from all different directions (one session limit).

• Radiotherapy (multi-session)

• Chemotherapy

What causes a tumor?

• We don’t know yet…

• But:– 5% arise from genetic inheritance (usually extra

copies chromosome 7)– Environment also plays a role

Bibliography

• http://www.willamette.edu/~gorr/classes/cs449/figs/neurons.jpg

• http://www.mayoclinic.org/metastatic-brain-tumors/

• http://www.irsa.org/metastatic_tumors.html

• http://www.irsa.org/astrocytoma.html

• http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007222.htm

• http://psychology.about.com/od/biopsychology/f/neuron01.htm

• http://encefalus.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/neuron_2.jpg

• http://sakshat.amrita.ac.in/VirtualLab/images/neuron.png

• http://tuberose.com/Graphics/brain%20tumor.jpeg

• http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/wiredscience/2009/04/neurons1.jpg