Neoplasms of The brain and Spinal Cord

Neoplasms of the brain and spinal cord are tumors that originate in the brain or spinal cord. They may be benign or malignant and may grow at different rates, which can have a significant impact on a patient's prognosis. The most common types of brain and spinal cord tumors are meningiomas, astrocytomas, and schwannomas. Meningiomas are tumors that originate in the membranes that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. They are typically benign, slow-growing tumors and can be treated with excision, radiation, or both depending on the severity of the tumor. Astrocytomas originate from glial cells, which are non-neuron al cells that play a role in maintaining and protecting the nerve cells of the brain. These tumors can be benign or malignant and may or may not be treated with radiation, chemotherapy and/or surgery depending on the severity. Schwannomas are tumors that originate from Schwann cells, which are cells that line the spine and are responsible for producing the protective myelin sheath around nerve cells. These tumors are typically benign and are always treated with surgical excision. In addition to these common brain and spinal cord tumors, patients can also develop rare, more aggressive forms of brain tumors. These include glioblastomas, oligoastrocytomas, and choroid plexus tumors. Glioblastomas are unpredictable and aggressive tumors that originate from glial cells and are treated with a combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Oligoastrocytomas are slow-growing tumors that often originate from the cerebellum and are treated with a combination of surgery and radiation therapy. Choroid plexus tumors usually originate in the brain’s ventricular system and can be either benign or malignant. They can be difficult to detect and are usually treated with surgery and radiation.