Tumor Types
Click on the tumor type below for an in-depth explanation:
- Acoustic neurinoma – Benign tumor occurring in the 8th cranial nerve (the acoustic nerve) between the pons and the cerebellum. Possibly associated with neurofibromatosis.
- Astrocytoma – Tumor arising from astrocyte cells, which form part of the brain's supportive (neuroglial) tissue. See also Glioblastoma Multiforme.
- Ependymoma – Tumor arising from the ependymal cells found along the ventricles and central canal of the spinal cord.
- Glioblastoma Multiforme – Grade IV astrocytoma able to spread widely throughout the brain and marked by areas of necrosis (dead tumor cells). Approximately 25% of all primary brain tumors are glioblastoma multiforme.
- Meningioma – Benign tumor arising from the meninges, the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. Meningiomas represent approximately 20% of all primary brain tumors and occur most commonly in middle-aged women.
- Metastatic Tumor – Tumor formed by cancer cells that spread (metastasize) to the brain from elsewhere in the body. They can appear anywhere in the brain or spine.
- Mixed Glioma – Tumor containing astrocytic and neuronal elements as well as oligodendroglial cells. Mixed gliomas confuse many neuropathologists who diagnose them as astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas or even "ganglioglioneurocytomas."
- Oligodendroglioma – Tumor arising from oligodendrocytes, a type of supportive brain tissue. They occur most frequently in young and middle-aged adults. Tumors often contain both oligodendrocytes and astrocytes. These mixed gliomas are much more common than pure oligodendrogliomas.
- Pineal Region Tumor – Tumor occurring in the area of the pineal gland. Germinomas, teratomas, pineocytomas, pineoblastomas, mixed tumors and astrocytomas can occur in the pineal region. Pineal tumors represent fewer than 1% of all primary brain tumors and 3-8% of childhood brain tumors.
