Central Nervous System & Brain Tumors

About

A brain tumor is a collection of abnormal cells in the brain tissue. Some tumors are benign (non-cancerous) and others are malignant (cancerous). We name tumors by their type of cells or where they tend to occur. The type of brain tumor affects what type of treatment will work best for you.

We combine the best in technology and modern medicine with the most personalized attention possible. The result is an integrated treatment plan designed just for you, to attack your specific brain tumor from many angles to speed your recovery. Below are brief descriptions of the most common brain tumors.

• Acoustic neuromas are benign tumors thataffect the vestibular nerve and cause hearing loss, ringing in the ear, and occasionally unsteadiness.
• Colloid cysts are the most common brain tumor located within the third ventricle. A colloid cyst is a benign tumor that can cause a blockage of cerebrospinal fluid, leading to increased intracranial pressure.
• Chordomas are a rare type of tumor that occurs in the bones of the skull and spine.
• Ependymomas originate in the ventricular lining of the brain.
• Gliomas begin in the glial cells that surround and support nerve cells.
• Hemangioblastomas are usually non-cancerous brain tumors made of stem cells that the body uses to make blood vessels or blood cells.
• Meningiomas are slow-growing tumors that form in the thin layers of tissue that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord.
• Metastatic tumors are any tumors resulting from the spread of cancer from one part of the body to another.
• Pediatric brain tumors include astrocytomas, medulloblastomas, and ependymomas.
• Pineal region tumors form in and around the pineal gland, which is deep within the brain.
• Pituitary tumors are usually benign and forms in the pituitary gland, a pea-sized organ at the base of the brain above the back of the nose that makes hormones that affect other glands and many body functions, especially growth.
• Skull base tumor is any tumor that grows from the base of the skull.