cancer clinic

Cancer Immunity Clinic

Cancer Immunity Clinic Overcoming Cancer Brain tumor

Overcoming Cancer
Primary, secondary (metastatic) intracranial tumors, “Brain tumor”

01

Definition

Brain tumor, i.e. intracranial tumor is a generic term for primary intracranial tumor, which develops in the brain tissue or membranes surrounding the brain, and secondary intracranial tumor which is metastasized from the cranium, its surrounding frames, or the distant part from the brain, and it includes neuroglioma, astrocytoma, malignant astrocytoma, glioblastoma, meningioma, pituitary adenoma, jneurinoma, congenital tumor, metastatic brain tumor, etc.

02

Characteristics

Intracranial tumor shows some distinctive aspects compared to other cancers developed in other organs. Since tumor develops inside the cranium which is very hard, neurological symptoms may appear at early stages as tumor grows, and symptoms for increased intracranial pressure are shown. In many cases, tumors may considered as malignant because, depending on the developed location, its complete removal is impossible even though it is histologically benign. Blocked stream of cerebrospinal fluid by tumor may cause hydrocephalus, and it is very rare that tumor metastasizes outward of the central nervous system.

03

Symptoms

Symptoms varied depending on types of tumor cells, growth speed, and developed location of tumor
Clinical symptoms of brain tumor is highly affected by physical reaction over the brain pressure increase and immune reaction as well as types of tumor cells, growth speed, and the location where tumor has developed in the cranial cavity.

· The brain stem is a pathway which signals of sensory nerves and motor nerves are sent to the brain. Tumor developed in the brain stem causes cranial nerves syndrome, such as oculomotor palsy, motor paralysis, sensory paralysis, etc. The brain stem also engages in functions of cardiac impulse, respiration, vasomotion · The cerebellum makes coordination of movements, so tumor developed here causes nausea, vomitting, loss of sense of balance, diplopia, dysbasia, fine dyscinesia, etc. · The frontal lobe controls a step higher cognitive function including judgement, emotions, and motor ability, and tumor developed here brings personality changes, affective disorders, etc. Other symptoms such as hemiplegia, dysbasia, decline in motor ability, etc. may appear. · Tumor developed in the occipital lobe which is in charge of vision causes partial or complete visual defec. The parietal lobe controls sense, perception, language ability. If tumor develops here, perceptivity over light, sense, pressure decreases. It also causes other symptoms like difficulties in distinguishing right and left, and spacial awareness defect. · Tumor located in the temporal lobe which engages in language, auditory sense, and emotional changes accompanies aggressive actions, difficulty in language expressions, memory impairment, etc. Rapidly growing malignant tumor, or slowly growing benign tumor which deveops near the motor center or cereral ventricle show clinical symptoms faster than tumors developed in the functionless parts.

04

Diagnosis

CT, MRI,
Neuroangiography
· In diagnosing brain tumor, most of all, it is import to recognize subjective symptoms and take measuers for early diagnosis. · Diagnostic tests includes CT (Computed tomography), MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging), neuroangiography, PET (Positron Emission Tomography), Magnetic resonance spectrography.

05

Treatments

For brain tumor treatment, surgery, radiotherapy, anti-cancer chemotherapy, etc. are used
. Brain tumor treatments include surgical removing operation, gamma knife treatment which is a non-invasive treatment using gamma rays, irradiation therapy, and chemotherapy which uses anti-cancer medications, and these treatments may be used individually or in combination.

06

Management after treatment

As the follow-up examination after treatment, patients can be regularly monitored whether there is any signs of recurrence by undergoing MRI and CT.
The follow-up examination is performed once in 3 to 6 months depending on the type of tumor and a doctor.