Causes of Brain Tumor;
There are many studies on the causes of brain tumor phenomenon. There is hardly any reason to blame for sure. However, it is known that some factors play a more common role in patients with advanced brain tumors. These factors can be listed as male gender, white race, over 65 years of age. It is known that exposure to radiation, radiation therapy increases the risk of brain tumors. Some types of brain tumors also show familial inheritance. Some raw materials used in the plastic and textile industry and mobile phones have also been identified as risk factors.
Brain Tumor Symptoms:
Patients with brain tumors have headache, vomiting, nausea, visual impairment, impaired consciousness, convulsions, weakness in arms and legs, irritability, loss of appetite, decreased hearing, They may apply with one or more of the complaints such as difficulty and/or slowness in speaking and finding words, personality and behavioral changes, loss of balance, dizziness, drowsiness, forgetfulness, inability to understand, and inability to write. Headache (usually more severe in the morning) and seizure are the most common findings. Brain tumor can be detected completely by chance in other situations where a brain MRI is required today, without any symptoms. These types of tumors are usually benign.
Brain Tumor Diagnostic Methods:
In clinical evaluation, computerized brain tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MR) examinations are used to determine whether the brain tumor case is generally benign or malignant to the region of origin. and can be estimated by looking at its general structure. These examinations can also be repeated with contrast material in order to better define tumor boundaries and features. Detection of biochemical changes in a region determined in the brain with Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS), measurement of water flow in the white matter tracts of the brain with Diffusion Tensor Imaging, detection of special functioning areas of the brain with Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMR), and determination of brain arteries and veins with Angiogram examination. may need to be displayed. Some tests that can help in the diagnosis include direct head X-rays, EEG, whole body bone scintigraphy, PET-CT, hormone examinations. The definitive diagnosis is made after pathological examination, which can take three to eight days, in the sample obtained by tumor biopsy or in the tumor tissue removed by surgery.
Brain Tumor Treatment Methods:
Generally, surgical removal of the tumor should be considered as the first choice for almost all cases of brain tumors. Meningioma, which is small in size and located deep in the brain, can be followed up by a neurosurgeon if it does not cause any complaints for the patient. In a minority of tumors, partial removal or radiotherapy and follow-up are recommended due to the high complication rate. Especially after the diagnosis of high-grade glial tumor is confirmed by biopsy; These tumors, each responding differently to treatment, are approached in different ways. While it is seen that some tumors respond to chemotherapy and radiation therapy by not growing for a very long time, there is a possibility that some high-grade brain tumors originating from brain tissue may not respond to these treatment methods. In addition, slow-release chemotherapy agents can be placed in the cavity formed after the tumor is removed in the brain tissue. While some of the lesions located in the brain stem can be removed surgically, radio-surgery (Gamma knife, Cyber knife, Linac) can be applied in some of them. In short, the character and location of the tumor, the patient’s age, general condition, and the presence of additional systemic problems determine the decision for surgery and the limits of surgical tumor removal.
