With an anticipated 17,760 deaths in the U.S.A. in 2019, brain tumors are responsible for tens of thousands of deaths annually. Because these conditions are prevalent, general practitioners must possess a fundamental understanding of how to diagnose and treat them. Among the most challenging tumor types to treat are glioblastoma (GBM) and brain metastasis (BM), the two most frequently diagnosed malignant brain tumors.
What is a Brain Tumor?
A brain tumor is an abnormal growth or mass of cells in or near the brain, including brain and spinal tumors. They can be benign or malignant and can affect brain function and health if they press on nearby tissue, blood vessels, and nerves.
Symptoms
Brain tumors can cause symptoms like weakness, persistent headaches, changes in vision or hearing, balance and coordination issues, cognitive or behavioral alterations, language difficulties, and memory issues. All these symptoms may help you to test for brain tumors at home. Tumors can invade healthy brain tissue, put pressure on nearby tissue, increase skull pressure, build fluid, block cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow, and cause brain bleeding.
Causes
Brain tumors develop when certain genes on chromosomes are damaged, leading to abnormal brain cells that grow and multiply faster than normal. These abnormal cells may be born with changes in these genes, and environmental factors like radiation exposure or previous cancer treatment may further damage the cells. The cause remains unknown.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of brain tumors is a difficult procedure that requires imaging tests and several specialists. When performing imaging testing for another medical condition, medical professionals may find a brain tumor. To evaluate symptoms and conditions, a physical examination, neurological examination, and medical history may be performed.
Special Diagnostic Tests
Healthcare professionals use a variety of tests, such as brain MRIs or CT scans, which employ a contrast chemical to make the tumor easier to view and to identify brain tumors. To determine the type and degree of cancer in a tumor, a biopsy is usually conducted; in certain situations, a stereotactic biopsy may be necessary. Cerebrospinal fluid is extracted from the spine during a spinal tap surgery to look for cancerous cells. To verify the tumor’s infiltration of brain tissues, specialized testing, including tumor markers and gene abnormalities, may be employed.
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Treatment options:
Brain tumor treatment depends on tumor location, size, type, number, age, and health. Combinations of therapies include brain surgery, radiation therapy, radiosurgery, brachytherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and active surveillance. Benign tumors can be removed with surgery but may hinder brain development in children.
Prevention and Prophylaxis
Unfortunately, brain tumors cannot be prevented. By avoiding environmental risks like smoking and excessive radiation exposure, you can lower your chance of getting a brain tumor.
It’s critical to inform your healthcare practitioner if a parent or sibling who is your first-degree biological relative has been diagnosed with a brain tumor. To determine whether you have an inherited genetic condition linked to brain cancers, they might suggest genetic counseling.
When to Seek Professional Diagnosis
To receive treatment and keep an eye on your symptoms, you will need to see your healthcare team regularly if you have been diagnosed with a brain tumor.
If the symptoms of your brain tumor worsen or if you develop new ones, you should consult your doctor. Even after receiving therapy for a brain tumor, you should see your doctor frequently.
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Summary
Systems techniques aid in understanding brain tumors’ intricacies and weaknesses, benefiting individuals with brain tumors through an integrated approach, despite challenges and requiring coordinated efforts across institutions.
References:
Park, J. H., de Lomana, A. L. G., Marzese, D. M., Juarez, T., Feroze, A., Hothi, P., Cobbs, C., Patel, A. P., Kesari, S., Huang, S., & Baliga, N. S. (2021). A Systems Approach to Brain Tumor Treatment. Cancers, 13(13), 3152. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers13133152.
McFaline-Figueroa, J. R., & Lee, E. Q. (2018). Brain tumors. The American Journal of Medicine, 131(8), 874–882. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2017.12.039
