Brain Tumors: Symptoms of Brain Tumors, Diagnosis and Treatment of Glioblastomas and Astrocytomas

Worldwide, an average of 3.5 people out of every 100,000 are affected by a malignant brain tumor. In Germany, three out of every 100,000 children have a brain tumor. This makes brain tumors the second most common malignant disease in children.

An accurate diagnosis and determination of the type of brain tumor are crucial for the subsequent treatment. 

There are a total of 130 different types of brain tumors. These tumors differ in terms of

• their location within the brain,
• the tissue from which they originate, or
• the speed at which they spread.

Uncontrolled cell growth is a characteristic feature.

Well-known types of brain tumors include, for example,

• acoustic neuroma,
• astrocytoma,
• glioblastoma,
• meningioma, and
• pituitary tumors. 

Brain metastases are secondary tumors. This means that they did not originate in the brain but are caused, for example, by skin cancer.

The underlying causes of brain tumor development are currently unknown. However, it is known that direct radiation to another organ—for example, due to cancer—increases the risk.

In addition to ionizing radiation, researchers are also considering oncogenic viruses (cancer-causing viruses) as potential causes of brain tumors. Genetic or hormonal factors may also play a role in the development of a brain tumor.

A few rare hereditary diseases can also cause the growth of a brain tumor. Examples include neurofibromatosis types 1 and 2. Otherwise, brain tumors are not known to be hereditary.

The 30 different types of tumors can present with very different symptoms. Therefore, there is no single clear symptom that is characteristic of all tumor types.

The effects of a brain tumor depend in particular on its location within the brain.

A WHO Grade I acoustic neuroma located on the side of the brain where the internal auditory canal is situated causes, for example,

• unilateral hearing loss,
• episodes of dizziness, or
• balance problems.

A WHO Grade IV glioblastoma can

• neurological deficits,
• epileptic seizures, or
• personality changes

.

The symptoms of a brain tumor can indicate its location in the brain. Therefore, they serve as an initial clue for further diagnosis.

In addition to the tumor classification, there is an index used to assess the patient’s functional impairment. This assessment of functional impairment in a patient with a brain tumor is based on the Karnofsky Index or the ECOG (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group).

The treatment of a brain tumor depends on the type of tumor and its classification. A careful diagnosis is therefore very important. As a rule, an interdisciplinary tumor board decides on the next steps in each individual case.

Some types of brain tumors cannot be surgically removed. In these cases, the prognosis is poorer.

Other types can be successfully removed through brain tumor surgery. For these, the prospects for subsequent therapies, such as radiation and chemotherapy, are better.

The tumor itself, as well as its treatment, often causes additional symptoms. To alleviate these, patients usually undergo what is known as supportive care. This typically involves the administration of pain-relieving medications.

Some patients also seek complementary therapy. This refers to forms of treatment in alternative medicine, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine or homeopathic remedies. In most cases, patients find providers for these treatments on their own. These measures have no demonstrable effect beyond a placebo effect. From a medical standpoint, therefore, they are generally not recommended.

A brain tumor specialist is usually a neurosurgeon. After completing medical school, a neurosurgeon undergoes further training to become a board-certified specialist in neurosurgery. The training period lasts 72 months and covers the treatment of conditions directly or indirectly related to the brain.