Brain tumor medical therapy: Difference between revisions

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==Overview==
==Overview==
Although there is no generally accepted therapeutic management for primary brain tumors, a surgical attempt at tumor removal or at least cytoreduction (that is,  removal of as much tumor as possible, in order to reduce the number of tumor cells available for proliferation) is considered in most cases<ref>Nakamura M, Konishi N, Tsunoda S, Nakase H, Tsuzuki T, Aoki H, Sakitani H, Inui T, Sakaki T. ''Analysis of prognostic and survival factors related to treatment of low-grade astrocytomas in adults.'' Oncology 2000;58:108-16. PMID 10705237.</ref>. However, due to the infiltrative nature of these lesions, tumor recurrence, even following an apparently complete surgical removal, is not uncommon. Postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy are integral parts of the therapeutic standard for malignant tumors. Radiotherapy may also be administered in cases of "low-grade" gliomas, when a significant tumor burden reduction could not be achieved surgically.
The predominant therapy for brain tumor is surgical resection. Adjunctive chemotherapy and radiation may be required.


Chemotherapy may be used with surgery or radiation treatment.
==Medical Therapy==
Some drugs that are used to treat brain cancer are:
 
*'''Everolimus'''- FDA approved - approved to treat [[Subependymal giant cell astrocytoma]] in patients who have [[Tuberous Sclerosis]] and are not able to have surgery.
*'''Bevacizumab'''- FDA approved - approved to treat [[Glioblastoma]] in patients whose disease has not gotten better with other types of treatment.
 
*'''Lomustine'''- FDA approved - used in patients who have already had surgery or radiation therapy
 
*'''Temozolomide'''- FDA approved - used in adults for the treatment of Anaplatic astrocytomas and [[Glioblastoma multiforme]]


Other medications used to treat primary brain tumors in children may include:
Other medications used to treat primary brain tumors in children may include:


* Corticosteroids, such as dexamethasone, to reduce brain swelling
* Corticosteroids, such as [[dexamethasone]], to reduce brain swelling
* Medicines such as urea or mannitol to reduce brain swelling and pressure
* Medicines such as urea or [[mannitol]] to reduce brain swelling and pressure
* Anticonvulsants, such as evetiracetam (Keppra), to reduce seizures
* Anticonvulsants, such as [[evetiracetam]] (Keppra), to reduce seizures
* Pain medications
* Pain medications
* Antacids or histamine blockers to control
* Antacids or histamine blockers to control


Comfort measures, safety measures, physical therapy, and occupational therapy may be needed to improve quality of life. Counseling, support groups, and similar measures can help people cope with the disorder.
====Contraindicated medications====
 
{{MedCondContrAbs
 
|MedCond = Cerebral neoplasm|Streptokinase}}
 
===Radiation Therapy===
 
In case of a malignant brain tumor, radiation therapy is needed to control the tumor and possibly acheive long-term remission.
There are some possible side effects of radiation therapy; these include the possibility of strokes and [[dementia]]. The severity as well as the chance that they happen, worsen with higher doses of therapy. The radiation therapy is usually very well tolerated.


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Reflist|2}}
{{WH}}
{{WS}}
[[Category:Disease]]
[[Category:Brain]]
[[Category:Neurology]]
[[Category:Up-To-Date]]
[[Category:Oncology]]
[[Category:Medicine]]
[[Category:Neurosurgery]]

Latest revision as of 20:41, 29 July 2020

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 predominant therapy for brain tumor is surgical resection. Adjunctive chemotherapy and radiation may be required.

Medical Therapy

Some drugs that are used to treat brain cancer are:

  • Lomustine- FDA approved - used in patients who have already had surgery or radiation therapy
  • Temozolomide- FDA approved - used in adults for the treatment of Anaplatic astrocytomas and Glioblastoma multiforme

Other medications used to treat primary brain tumors in children may include:

  • Corticosteroids, such as dexamethasone, to reduce brain swelling
  • Medicines such as urea or mannitol to reduce brain swelling and pressure
  • Anticonvulsants, such as evetiracetam (Keppra), to reduce seizures
  • Pain medications
  • Antacids or histamine blockers to control

Contraindicated medications

Cerebral neoplasm is considered an absolute contraindication to the use of the following medications:

Radiation Therapy

In case of a malignant brain tumor, radiation therapy is needed to control the tumor and possibly acheive long-term remission. There are some possible side effects of radiation therapy; these include the possibility of strokes and dementia. The severity as well as the chance that they happen, worsen with higher doses of therapy. The radiation therapy is usually very well tolerated.

References

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