User:DerekvG/sandbox/braintumor/original page maligbt

(tag removed) mergeto|Brain tumor|date=February 2010}} A malignant brain tumor is any malignant neoplasm originating within the brain. The prognosis for most for of malignant brain tumors is dismal, even if aggressive therapy is used, but some types of malignant brain tumors, such as medulloblastoma, have a better prognosis.

Types of malignant brain tumors

• Astrocytomas,which can range from low grade Pilocytic astrocytoma,and anaplastic astrocytoma to Glioblastoma multiforme
• Oligodendroglioma
• Ependymomas
• Medulloblastoma, a cancer commonly affecting children.
• meningioma
• choroid plexus carcinoma

Signs and Symptoms

A cancerous brain tumor located frontal lobe of the brain could cause these symptoms.

• Changes in judgement,behavior,cognition,or personality.
• Sensory changes,such as vision or smell abnormalities
• Onset of hemiplegia

A tumor in the parietal lobe causes symptoms such as.

• New onset of seizures
• Speech problems

Malignant brainstem tumors can cause the following symptoms.

• New onset problems with talking and swallowing (dysphasgia and aphasia)
• Emesis
• Ptosis and strabismus
• Abnormal sleepiness
• Behavior problems
• Hemiparesis
• Abnormal gait

Treatment

Treatment differs based on tumor type,histology, and location in the brain. Surgical resection is often an important treatment modality, in particular for those in otherwise good health. Radiotherpy may be used if there is incomplete resection of the tumor. Forms of radiotherapy used for brain cancer include external beam radiation therapy, brachytherapy ,and stereotatic radiotherapy. Chemotherapy may also be used in some patients, mainly those with medulloblastoma, glioblastoma multiforme, and other forms of astrocytoma. Treatment of brainstem gliomas presents a major challenge. Current treatment of diffuse infiltrative brainstem glioma is mainly symptomatic and supportive; it can consist of radiotherapy which can minimally extend survival, cerebrospinal shunting to treat hydrocephalus, and corticosteroids.

Prognosis

The prognosis of brain cancer varies based on the type of cancer. Medulloblastoma has a good prognosis with chemotherpy, radiotherapy, surgical resection, and chemotherapy while glioblastoma multiforme has a median survival of only 12 months even with aggressive chemoradiotherapy and surgery. Brainstem gliomas have the poorest prognosis of any form of brain cancer, with most patients dying with in 1 year, even with therapy that typically consists of radiation to the tumor along with corticosteroids. However, one type of brainstem glioma, a focal [editor note to author: this appears to be an incompleted thought]

Treatment and prognosis of glioblastoma multiforme

Main article: Glioblastoma multiforme

Glioblastoma multiforme is the deadliest and most common form of malignant brain tumor. Even when aggressive multimodality therapy consisting of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgical excision is used, median survival is only 12-17 months. Standard therapy for glioblastoma multiforme consists of maximal surgical resection of the tumor, followed by radiotherapy bettween 2 and 4 weeks after the surgical procedure to remove the cancer. This is followed by chemotherapy. Most patients with Glioblastoma take a corticosteroid, typically dexamethasone, during there illness to palliate symptoms. Experimental treatments include gamma-knife radiosurgery.

Treatment of oligodendrogliomas

Main article: Oligodendroglioma

Oligodendroglioma is incurable but slowly proggressive malignant brain tumor. They can be treated with chemotherapy, surgical resection, and radiotherapy, but initialy most neuro-oncologists opt for a course of watchful waiting, with only symptomatic therapy. Median survival for these types of tumors is up to 11.6 years in cases of low grade oligodendroglioma.