Tumors of the brain stem - neoplasms that are located in the middle and / or medulla oblongata, bridge. It is immediately worth noting that such structures can be either benign or malignant. In any case, the formation and growth of the tumor is accompanied by the appearance of various neurological disorders. According to statistics, the disease in most cases is diagnosed in the late stages of development and is difficult to treat.
Of course, many people are looking for more information. Why does pathology develop? What are the symptoms of a brain stem tumor? Are there effective therapies? What forecasts can be counted on? The answers to these questions are worth a look.
Causes of tumor formation
Why is a brain stem tumor formed? The reasons, unfortunately, are not always clear, because the mechanisms of the development of cancer are not fully understood. Scientists have been able to identify some risk factors.
- There is a genetic inheritance. According to statistics, most often patients with a brain stem tumor had relatives with certain cancers.
- Risk factors include some genetic diseases, in particular, tuberous sclerosis, Turco syndrome, Recklinghausen disease, Gorlin syndrome, etc. The presence of such pathologies increases the likelihood of developing brain cancer.
- Potentially hazardous are prolonged exposure to chemicals, in particular mercury, arsenic, and lead.
- There are certain age-specific risk groups - children aged 5 to 7 years are at risk, as well as elderly people 65-70 years old.
Of course, poor ecology, poor nutrition, bad habits, weakening of the immune system contribute to the development of cancer, but only if there are prerequisites.
Classification according to the type of growth of the neoplasm
Of course, today there are many classification schemes for this ailment. During the diagnosis, doctors pay attention primarily to the type of tumor growth. Three main forms are distinguished depending on this.
- A nodal tumor of the brain stem is a neoplasm resembling a node. It is surrounded by a dense capsule and has smooth edges. Often such a tumor has a cystic part. By the way, if the structure is benign, it can be removed surgically.
- The diffuse form is much more dangerous. Such a structure does not have clear boundaries, it grows in nearby areas, replaces healthy cells. Removing it, while avoiding serious brain damage, is almost impossible. Unfortunately, in 80% of cases, patients have precisely a diffuse tumor of the brain stem. In children, such an ailment is diagnosed relatively often.
- Infiltrative neoplasm is most rare. In this case, the tumor is also surrounded by a capsule and has clear edges. With a microscopic examination, you can see that the nerve tissues adjacent to the neoplasm are gradually destroyed.
Brain stem tumor: photos and main types of neoplasms
We have already examined the types of growth of benign and malignant neoplasms. But if we talk about tumors of the brain stem, it is worth noting that there are several of their varieties.
- In 60% of patients with a similar disease, astrocytomas are diagnosed. Fibrillar and pilocytic neoplasms are benign. But multiform and anaplastic astrocytomas are malignant, characterized by rapid growth and the formation of metastases.
- Oligodendrogliomas are less common - in about 8% of cases. Such neoplasms grow slowly and often reach large sizes.
- Ependymomas are diagnosed in 5% of cases, and children often encounter a similar form of cancer. In 70%, this neoplasm is benign. Against the background of the course of the disease, an increase in intracranial pressure and the development of hydrocephalus are often observed.
It is worth noting that the choice of treatment technique directly depends on the variety and type of tumor growth. In this case, a thorough diagnosis is very important.
Stages of the development of the disease
A brain stem tumor, like almost any other neoplasm, grows and develops in several stages.
- The first stage is accompanied by the formation of a small tumor - its diameter does not exceed three centimeters. It has clear edges and does not apply to nearby tissues. Unfortunately, this stage is rarely accompanied by any symptoms, so the disease in the first stage is rarely diagnosed.
- The second stage is characterized by the growth of the neoplasm - its size already exceeds 3 cm. Nevertheless, the tumor retains clear edges. The first symptoms appear, but patients very often attribute everything to the usual malaise.
- In the third stage, the tumor grows in nearby structures, for example, in the ventricles of the brain.
- The fourth stage is no longer just a brain stem tumor. At this stage, the disease is accompanied by the rapid formation and growth of metastases throughout the body. During this period, the disease is practically not amenable to therapy.
The main neurological symptoms
Symptoms of a brain stem tumor may be different. It all depends on the exact location of the neoplasm, as well as its size. Often, a growing tumor constricts blood vessels, squeezes areas of the brain, and leads to a sharp increase in intracranial pressure. Moreover, a malignant structure located in one part of the brain can adversely affect the work of other parts of the central nervous system.
However, some common symptoms can be distinguished.
- Most often, patients (about 90% of all patients) complain of headaches. Unpleasant sensations can be localized in different areas. Pain is rarely permanent - in most cases it is paroxysmal in nature. Sometimes it is aching, moderate, and sometimes sharp, tearing, almost intolerant. Unpleasant sensations often appear in the morning. A headache attack can be triggered by stress, physical activity, coughing, weight lifting, etc.
- Often along with headaches, dizziness also appears. Patients often feel ill, complain of darkening in the eyes and tinnitus.
- In 60% of cases, one of the symptoms is nausea. Attacks are often accompanied by vomiting, and it occurs suddenly and most often in the morning.
- Sometimes you may notice that patients keep their heads in the wrong, unnatural position. Thus, a person reflexively tries to take a position in which the tumor does not compress the blood vessels, cranial and cervical nerves.
- Quite often (65% of cases), tumor growth is accompanied by the appearance of mental disorders. Some patients become irritable and nervous, while others, on the contrary, suffer from apathy, a slow reaction. There are various changes in consciousness.
- Epileptic seizures are possible.
- Tumor growth affects the work of visual analyzers. About 70% of patients complain of visual impairment, which is associated with increased intracranial pressure and compression of the optic nerves. Edema and atrophy of the disc are observed, hemorrhages in the near-disk spaces occur.
- In the later stages, bulbar syndrome may develop. Against the background of compression of certain parts of the brain, there are problems with swallowing, speech disorders.
- If the tumor is actively growing, then a change in the shape of the skull is possible - its walls sometimes become thinner, and the sutures diverge. Similar symptoms are usually observed in children.
Focal symptoms
Some disorders do not appear in all patients. Their development is associated with focal brain lesions. The list of such symptoms includes:
- decreased hearing sensitivity (sometimes even deafness);
- paresis and twitching of the eye muscles;
- motor disorders, in particular, problems with coordination, spatial orientation, gait changes;
- visual and tactile impairment;
- hand tremor;
- facial expression disorders associated with facial muscle weakness (for example, an asymmetric smile);
- frequent and sharp jumps in blood pressure.
It is worth noting that as the tumor grows, the patient's condition worsens - tachycardia, cardiomyopathy, dysphagia, and respiratory failure develop.
Diagnostic measures
In this case, timely and accurate diagnosis is very important.
- To begin with, a general neurological examination and anamnesis are performed.
- Mandatory is computed and magnetic resonance imaging. In the pictures, the doctor can see the lesions, assess the location and size of the tumor.
- Encephalography and echoencephalography are performed. These examinations allow you to evaluate the functioning of the brain, to detect an increase in intracranial pressure.
- Often, angiography of the vessels of the brain is additionally performed, as well as x-ray of the skull.
Is an operation possible?
Is a brain stem tumor treated? Is the operation possible? What should a patient expect? These questions are asked by many people.
The surgeon's task is to remove the tumor, while avoiding damage to nerve tissue. It is immediately worth saying that in most cases such neoplasms are inoperable. If a nodular tumor can be excised, then it is almost impossible to cope with diffuse neoplasms.
The operation is usually carried out endoscopically using a laser. This procedure is safer, since the laser beam acts more accurately than a conventional scalpel, and less damages the tissue, allowing you to immediately burn damaged vessels.
Cryotherapy is occasionally performed - the tumor is treated with liquid nitrogen, which allows the destruction of altered cells.
Other treatments
The operation allows you to remove a large tumor with smooth, clear edges. But surgical intervention must be supplemented with other treatment methods that allow you to kill all the remaining malignant cells.
The doctor determines the treatment regimen individually. Chemotherapy helps many patients, which involves taking certain combinations of cytostatic drugs. Radiation therapy is also considered very effective, which implies exposure to malignant cells of high doses of radiation.
Symptomatic therapy
Unfortunately, the treatment of a brain stem tumor with the methods described above does not always end successfully. On the other hand, the condition of the patient can be alleviated with the help of correctly selected drugs.
For example, drugs such as Nurofen, Diclofenac, Prednisolone, have anti-inflammatory properties, help quickly relieve pain and swelling. In the presence of mental disorders, antipsychotics are used, for example, Haloperidol. "Carbamazepine" and other anticonvulsants help cope with epileptic seizures. Some patients need antidepressants.
Brain stem tumor: patient predictions
What predictions can a patient with a similar diagnosis count on? What can someone who is sick say? A brain stem tumor is a dangerous disease. In this case, timely diagnosis and quick start of therapy is extremely important.
Unfortunately, the neoplasm is very rarely removed surgically. If we are talking about a benign tumor, then it usually grows slowly - a person can live for 10-15 years without the appearance of any serious neurological disorders or symptoms. With malignant structures, the situation is different - most often the disease ends fatally within a few years (and sometimes months) after the appearance of the first signs. Conservative therapy can prolong the patient's life, but, unfortunately, getting rid of the tumor does not help.