Types of noncancerous brain tumors

A noncancerous brain tumor is an unexpected group of abnormal cells in your brain. Most grow slowly. They cannot spread to other parts of the body like cancerous tumors. But they can get big enough to cause symptoms.

Your doctor may call it a noncancerous tumor.

There are many types of noncancerous tumors. Each of them affects a certain type of brain cells.

Even if they are not cancerous, it is important that you continue to follow your doctor. Rarely, these tumors can become cancerous.

Meningiomas

This is the most common type of brain tumor. About a third of them are of this type.

Meningiomas begin in the meninges, the protective covering of the brain and spinal cord.

Women are twice as likely as men to develop meningiomas. You may be more likely to get this tumor if you:

Were exposed to high doses of radiation
Have the genetic disease neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) or type 2 (NF2)

Most meningiomas do not cause symptoms until they grow. They can then call:

Headache
Seizures
Nausea or vomiting
Personality changes
Confusion
Vision problems
Speech problems
Hearing loss or ringing in the ears
Weak muscles

Schwannomas

They get their name from the cells in which they begin. Schwann cells surround nerve cells in the brain.

The most common type of schwannoma is vestibular schwannoma, which a doctor may call an acoustic neuroma. It affects the vestibular nerve, which runs from the inner ear to the brain and helps maintain balance.

People with NF2 are more prone to schwannomas. Women are twice as likely as men to have them.

Schwannoma symptoms include:

Hearing loss
Ringing or buzzing in the ears
Dizziness
Trouble swallowing
Problems with balance

Pituitary adenomas

These tumors start in your pituitary gland, which is at the base of your brain and produces hormones. The pituitary also directs other glands in your body to produce hormones.

Pituitary adenomas are common. Up to 1 in 5 adults have tiny tumors in the pituitary gland. Most of these tumors never grow and never cause problems.

Women suffer from it more often than men. Anyone can get these tumors, but people with hereditary multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) are more prone to them.

Some pituitary adenomas produce hormones. Then we are talking about functional tumors.

Your symptoms depend on whether the tumor produces hormones and which ones:

If it creates:

Prolactin, and you are a woman, you may not have a period or it may stop. Men may notice breast enlargement.
Adrenocorticotropic hormone, you are likely to have symptoms of what is called Cushing's disease. These may include weight gain, easy bruising, and weakness.
Thyroid stimulating hormone can cause symptoms of hyperthyroidism such as weight loss, nervousness, and sweating.

Other symptoms of these tumors include:

Headaches
Vision loss or double vision
Loss of sexual desire
Infertility
Changes in behavior
Unplanned weight gain

Hemangioblastomas

They start in your blood vessels. They can form in the brain, spinal cord, or at the back of the eye (retina).

These tumors sometimes affect people with the genetic von Hippel-Lindau syndrome.

Symptoms include:

Numbness or weakness in the arms or legs
Headache
Nausea and vomiting
Dizziness
Trouble with balance and walking
Loss of control over the bladder or bowels

Craniopharyngiomas

This type begins with cells at the base of the brain near the pituitary gland. Craniopharyngiomas are composed of solid parts and fluid-filled pockets called cysts. They are most common in children aged 5 to 14 years and in adults over 45 years of age.

With the development of craniopharyngioma, symptoms such as:

Obesity or weight gain
Heavy thirst
Peeing more
Slowed growth
Delayed puberty
Tiredness
Headaches, which may be worse in the morning
Confusion
Vision changes
Personality changes
Nausea and vomiting
Poor balance and trouble walking

Gliomas

Gliomas grow in glial cells that surround and support nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.

These tumors affect both children and adults. But they are more common in adults. Men are slightly more likely to develop glioma than women.

People with hereditary diseases such as NF1 or tuberous sclerosis are more prone to them.

Gliomas come in different qualities depending on their resemblance to normal cells and their rate of growth:

Grade 1: These cells look almost normal. They grow very slowly.
Grade 2: A bit of abnormality sets in. They can return after treatment as a higher grade.
Grade 3: The cells reproduce quickly and are more aggressive than the first two grades.
Grade 4: These cells look nothing like normal cells. They're very aggressive and grow very quickly.

How doctors diagnose these tumors

Your doctor will ask you if you have had symptoms of a brain tumor, such as seizures, headaches, or nausea. You may need one or more of these tests:

CT scan. A powerful X-ray takes detailed images of your brain.
Magnetic resonance imaging. Powerful magnets and radio waves create images of your brain.
Biopsy. This test removes a small amount of tumor cells. Your sample is examined under a microscope to determine if it contains cancer cells.
Lumbar puncture (also known as lumbar puncture). This may be done to check for abnormal cells in the cerebrospinal fluid.
Blood and urine tests. You can ask them to look for hormones and other substances that produce tumors in your body. Your doctor may also use them to check how well your organs are working.

How they are treated

Small tumors may not require treatment. Your doctor will check you regularly with a CT or MRI scan to see if the tumor is growing.

Large tumors are removed surgically. Your surgeon will try to remove as much of the tumor as possible.

Radiation therapy is another treatment option. It uses high energy x-rays to shrink the tumor. Doctors use radiation therapy for tumors when they:

Cannot be completely removed by surgery.
Come back after surgery

A type of radiation therapy called stereotactic radiation surgery is a treatment option for some brain tumors. It directs high doses of radiation directly at the tumor so as not to damage nearby tissues.

Your doctor will discuss all treatment options with you and help you choose the plan that is right for you.