Brain tumor history and symptoms: Difference between revisions

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{{Brain tumor}}
{{Brain tumor}}


==Overview==
==Overview==
Although there is no specific clinical symptom or sign for brain tumors, slowly progressive [[focal neurologic signs]] and signs of elevated intracranial pressure, as well as epilepsy in a patient with a negative history for epilepsy should raise red flags. However, a sudden onset of symptoms, such as an [[epilepsy|epileptic seizure]] in a patient with no prior history of epilepsy, sudden [[intracranial hypertension]] (this may be due to bleeding within the tumor, brain swelling or obstruction of [[cerebrospinal fluid]]'s passage) is also possible.


The most common symptoms of brain tumors are [[headache]], [[seizures]], visual changes and changes in personality, mood and concentration.


==Symptoms==
==History and Symptoms==
Symptoms include phantom [[odor]]s and [[taste]]s. Often, in the case of metastatic tumors, the smell of vulcanized rubber is prevalent.
Symptoms include phantom [[odor]]s and [[taste]]s. Often, in the case of metastatic tumors, the smell of vulcanized rubber is prevalent.


General signs and symptoms include the following:
General symptoms include the following:


* Headaches.
* [[Headache]]s
* Seizures.
* [[Seizure]]s
* Visual changes.
* Visual changes
* Gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, loss of appetite, and vomiting.
* Gastrointestinal symptoms such as [[nausea]], [[loss of appetite]], and [[vomiting]]
* Changes in personality, mood, mental capacity, and concentration.
* Changes in personality, mood, mental capacity, and concentration


Whether primary, metastatic, malignant, or benign, brain tumors must be differentiated from other space-occupying lesions such as abscesses, arteriovenous malformations, and infarction, which can have a similar clinical presentation.<ref> Hutter A, Schwetye KE, Bierhals AJ, et al.: Brain neoplasms: epidemiology, diagnosis, and prospects for cost-effective imaging. Neuroimaging Clin N Am 13 (2): 237-50, x-xi, 2003.</ref> Other clinical presentations of brain tumors include focal cerebral syndromes such as seizures.<ref> Mehta M, Vogelbaum MA, Chang S, et al.: Neoplasms of the central nervous system. In: DeVita VT Jr, Lawrence TS, Rosenberg SA: Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2011, pp 1700-49.</ref> Seizures are a presenting symptom in approximately 20% of patients with supratentorial brain tumors and may antedate the clinical diagnosis by months to years in patients with slow-growing tumors. Among all patients with brain tumors, 70% with primary parenchymal tumors and 40% with metastatic brain tumors develop seizures at some time during the clinical course.<ref> Cloughesy T, Selch MT, Liau L: Brain. In: Haskell CM: Cancer Treatment. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders Co, 2001, pp 1106-42.</ref>
'''Seizures''' are a presenting symptom in approximately 20% of patients with supratentorial brain tumors and may antedate the clinical diagnosis by months to years in patients with slow-growing tumors. Among all patients with brain tumors, 70% with primary parenchymal tumors and 40% with metastatic brain tumors develop seizures at some time during the clinical course.<ref> Cloughesy T, Selch MT, Liau L: Brain. In: Haskell CM: Cancer Treatment. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders Co, 2001, pp 1106-42.</ref>
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Headaches caused by brain tumors may:
'''Headaches''' caused by brain tumors may:


* Be worse when the person wakes up in the morning, and clear up in a few hours
* Be worse when the person wakes up in the morning, and clear up in a few hours
* Occur during sleep
* Occur during sleep
* Occur with vomiting, confusion, double vision, weakness, or numbness
* Occur with [[vomiting]], [[confusion]], [[double vision]], [[weakness]], or [[numbness]]
* Get worse with coughing or exercise, or with a change in body position
* Get worse with coughing or exercise, or with a change in body position


Other symptoms may include:
Other symptoms may include:


* Change in alertness (including sleepiness, unconsciousness, and coma)
* Change in alertness (including [[sleepiness]], [[unconsciousness]], and [[coma]]
* Changes in hearing
* Changes in hearing
* Changes in taste or smell
* Changes in taste or smell
* Changes that affect touch and the ability to feel pain, pressure, different temperatures, or other stimuli
* Changes that affect touch and the ability to feel [[pain]], pressure, different temperatures, or other stimuli
* Clumsiness
* Clumsiness
* Confusion or memory loss
* [[Confusion]] or [[memory loss]]
*  Difficulty swallowing
*  Difficulty swallowing
* Difficulty writing or reading
* Difficulty writing or reading
* Dizziness or abnormal sensation of movement (vertigo)
* [[Dizziness]] or abnormal sensation of movement ([[vertigo]])
* Eye problems
* Eye problems


** Eyelid drooping
** Eyelid drooping
** Pupils of different sizes
** Uncontrollable movements
** Uncontrollable movements


* Hand tremor
* Hand [[tremor]]
* Lack of control over the bladder or bowels
* Lack of control over the bladder or bowels
* Loss of balance
* [[Loss of balance]]
* Loss of coordination
* [[Muscle weakness]] in the face, arm, or leg (usually on just one side)
* Muscle weakness in the face, arm, or leg (usually on just one side)
* [[Numbness]] or tingling on one side of the body
* Numbness or tingling on one side of the body
* Personality, mood, behavior, or emotional changes
* Problems with eyesight, including decreased vision, double vision, or total loss of vision
* Problems with eyesight, including decreased vision, double vision, or total loss of vision
* Trouble speaking or understanding others who are speaking
* Trouble speaking or understanding others who are speaking
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* Excessive body hair
* Excessive body hair
* Facial changes
* Facial changes
* Low blood pressure
* [[Low blood pressure]]
* Obesity
* [[Obesity]]
* Sensitivity to heat or cold
* Sensitivity to heat or cold
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
[[Category:Disease]]
[[Category:Brain]]
[[Category:Neurology]]
[[Category:Mature chapter]]
{{WH}}
{{WS}}
[[Category:Up-To-Date]]
[[Category:Oncology]]
[[Category:Medicine]]
[[Category:Neurology]]
[[Category:Neurosurgery]]

Latest revision as of 02:34, 6 November 2017

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Brain tumor Microchapters

Patient Information

Overview

Classification

Adult brain tumors
Glioblastoma multiforme
Oligodendroglioma
Meningioma
Hemangioblastoma
Pituitary adenoma
Schwannoma
Primary CNS lymphoma
Childhood brain tumors
Pilocytic astrocytoma
Medulloblastoma
Ependymoma
Craniopharyngioma
Pinealoma
Metastasis
Lung cancer
Breast cancer
Melanoma
Gastrointestinal tract cancer
Renal cell carcinoma
Osteoblastoma
Head and neck cancer
Neuroblastoma
Lymphoma
Prostate cancer

Causes

Differentiating Brain Tumor from other Diseases

Overview

The most common symptoms of brain tumors are headache, seizures, visual changes and changes in personality, mood and concentration.

History and Symptoms

Symptoms include phantom odors and tastes. Often, in the case of metastatic tumors, the smell of vulcanized rubber is prevalent.

General symptoms include the following:

Seizures are a presenting symptom in approximately 20% of patients with supratentorial brain tumors and may antedate the clinical diagnosis by months to years in patients with slow-growing tumors. Among all patients with brain tumors, 70% with primary parenchymal tumors and 40% with metastatic brain tumors develop seizures at some time during the clinical course.[1]

Headaches caused by brain tumors may:

  • Be worse when the person wakes up in the morning, and clear up in a few hours
  • Occur during sleep
  • Occur with vomiting, confusion, double vision, weakness, or numbness
  • Get worse with coughing or exercise, or with a change in body position

Other symptoms may include:

  • Change in alertness (including sleepiness, unconsciousness, and coma
  • Changes in hearing
  • Changes in taste or smell
  • Changes that affect touch and the ability to feel pain, pressure, different temperatures, or other stimuli
  • Clumsiness
  • Confusion or memory loss
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Difficulty writing or reading
  • Dizziness or abnormal sensation of movement (vertigo)
  • Eye problems
    • Eyelid drooping
    • Uncontrollable movements
  • Hand tremor
  • Lack of control over the bladder or bowels
  • Loss of balance
  • Muscle weakness in the face, arm, or leg (usually on just one side)
  • Numbness or tingling on one side of the body
  • Problems with eyesight, including decreased vision, double vision, or total loss of vision
  • Trouble speaking or understanding others who are speaking
  • Trouble walking

Other symptoms that may occur with a pituitary tumor:

  • Abnormal nipple discharge
  • Absent menstruation (periods)
  • Breast development in men
  • Enlarged hands, feet
  • Excessive body hair
  • Facial changes
  • Low blood pressure
  • Obesity
  • Sensitivity to heat or cold

References

  1. Cloughesy T, Selch MT, Liau L: Brain. In: Haskell CM: Cancer Treatment. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders Co, 2001, pp 1106-42.

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