Brain Tumor

A brain tumor is a mass or growth of abnormal cells in your brain.

Brain tumors typically are categorized as either primary or secondary. Primary brain tumors originate in your brain and can be noncancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant). Secondary brain tumors result from cancer that began elsewhere and spread to your brain. Primary brain tumors are less common than secondary brain tumors.

Benign brain tumors are usually slower growing, easier to remove (depending on their location), and less likely to recur than are malignant brain tumors. Benign brain tumors don't invade the surrounding normal brain or other nearby structures, but they can still place pressure on sensitive areas of your brain.

Malignant brain tumors can grow more rapidly, invading or destroying nearby brain tissue. However, unlike cancers elsewhere in your body, primary malignant brain tumors rarely spread from your brain.

Brain tumors are often challenging for doctors to treat. But many types of brain tumors can be successfully treated with one or more methods. In addition, technology is enabling doctors to target tumors more precisely.

Signs and symptoms -A brain tumor can obstruct the flow of cerebrosinal fluid ...

Causes and treatments -Doctors generally divide brain tumors into the following categories to explain where or how they originate.