NINDS Brain and Spinal Tumors Information Page: NINDS

Article title: NINDS Brain and Spinal Tumors Information Page: NINDS
Conditions: Brain tumor, spinal cord tumor

What are Brain and Spinal Tumors?
Brain and spinal cord tumors are abnormal growths of tissue found inside the skull or the bony spinal column, which are the primary components of the central nervous system (CNS). Benign tumors are noncancerous, and malignant tumors are cancerous. The CNS is housed within rigid, bony quarters (i.e., the skull and spinal column), so any abnormal growth, whether benign or malignant, can place pressure on sensitive tissues and impair function. Tumors that originate in the brain or spinal cord are called primary tumors. Most primary tumors are caused by out-of-control growth among cells that surround and support neurons. In a small number of individuals, primary tumors may result from specific genetic disease (e.g., neurofibromatosis, tuberous sclerosis) or from exposure to radiation or cancer-causing chemicals. The cause of most primary tumors remains a mystery. They are not contagious and, at this time, not preventable. Symptoms of brain tumors include headaches, seizures, nausea and vomiting, vision or hearing problems, behavioral and cognitive problems, motor problems, and balance problems. Spinal cord tumor symptoms include pain, sensory changes, and motor problems. The first test to diagnose brain and spinal column tumors is a neurological examination. Special imaging techniques (computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography) are also employed. Laboratory tests include the EEG and the spinal tap. A biopsy, a surgical procedure in which a sample of tissue is taken from a suspected tumor, helps doctors diagnose the type of tumor.

Is there any treatment?
The three most commonly used treatments are surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Doctors also may prescribe steroids to reduce the swelling inside the CNS.

What is the prognosis?
Symptoms of brain and spinal cord tumors generally develop slowly and worsen over time unless they are treated. The tumor may be classified as benign or malignant and given a numbered score that reflects how malignant it is. This score can help doctors determine how to treat the tumor and predict the likely outcome, or prognosis, for the patient.

What research is being done?
Researchers are studying brachytherapy (small radioactive pellets implanted directly into the tumor) and advanced drugs and techniques for chemotherapy and radiation therapy. In gene therapy for brain and spinal cord tumors, scientists insert a gene to make the tumor cells sensitive to certain drugs, to program the cells to self-destruct, or to instruct the cells to manufacture substances to slow their growth. Scientists are also investigating why some genes become cancer-causing. Since tumors are more sensitive to heat than normal tissue, research scientists are testing hyperthermia as a treatment by placing special heat-producing antennae into the tumor region after surgery. In immunotherapy, scientists are looking for ways to duplicate or enhance the body's immune response to fight against brain and spinal cord cancer.

Organizations

American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA)
2720 River Road
Suite 146
Des Plaines, IL 60018-4110
info@abta.org
http://www.abta.org/
Tel: 847-827-9910 800-886-2282
Fax: 847-827-9918

Brain Tumor Society
124 Watertown Street
Suite 3H
Watertown, MA 02472-2500
info@tbts.org
http://www.tbts.org/
Tel: 617-924-9997 800-770-TBTS (8287)
Fax: 617-924-9998

Childhood Brain Tumor Foundation
20312 Watkins Meadow Drive
Germantown, MD 20876
cbtf@childhoodbraintumor.org
http://www.childhoodbraintumor.org/
Tel: 301-515-2900

Children's Brain Tumor Foundation
274 Madison Avenue
Suite 1301
New York, NY 10016
cbtfny@aol.com
http://www.cbtf.org/
Tel: 212-448-9494 866-CBT-HOPE (228-4673)
Fax: 212-448-1022

Katie's Kids for the Cure [For Brain Tumor Research]
P.O. Box 650039
Potomac Falls, VA 20165-0039
rich@katieskids.org
http://www.joubertfoundation.com/
Tel: 877-KTS-KIDS (588-5438) 703-430-3813
Fax: 703-783-0228

National Brain Tumor Foundation (NBTF)
414 Thirteenth Street
Suite 700
Oakland, CA 94612-2603
nbtf@braintumor.org
http://www.braintumor.org/
Tel: 510-839-9777 800-934-CURE (2873)
Fax: 510-839-9779

National Cancer Institute (NCI)
National Institutes of Health
Bldg. 31, Rm. 10A31
Bethesda, MD 20892-2580
cancermail@icicc.nci.nih.gov
http://cancernet.nci.nih.gov/
Tel: 301-435-3848 NCI's Cancer Information Service 800-4-CANCER (422-6237) TTY: 800-332-8615

Musella Foundation for Brain Tumor Research and Information
1100 Peninsula Blvd.
Hewlett, NY 11557
musella@virtualtrials.com
http://www.virtualtrials.com/
Tel: 516-295-4740
Fax: 516-295-2870

National Headache Foundation
428 West St. James Place
2nd Floor
Chicago, IL 60614-2750
info@headaches.org
http://www.headaches.org/
Tel: 773-388-6399 888-NHF-5552 (643-5552)
Fax: 773-525-7357

American Council for Headache Education
19 Mantua Road
Mt. Royal, NJ 08061
achehq@talley.com
http://www.achenet.org/
Tel: 856-423-0258 800-255-ACHE (255-2243)
Fax: 856-423-0082

Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors: Hope Through Research
Brain and spinal cord tumors information booklet compiled by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).

Headache: Hope Through Research
Information booklet about headaches, including migraines.

Report of the Brain Tumor Progress Review Group
No Description Available at This Time

This fact sheet is in the public domain. You may copy it.Provided by:
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, MD 20892

Medical Tools & Articles:

Next articles:

Medical Articles: