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Brain tumours

Tumours that start in the brain are called primary brain tumours. Some types of brain tumours are benign and some are malignant.

A benign tumour is made of slow-growing cells and is unlikely to spread. However, a benign tumour may cause problems because it takes up space inside the skull. It may press on the brain or important nerves that come out of the brain (called cranial nerves). The pressure may affect the normal function of these structures. It may raise the pressure in the skull and cause headaches and/or nausea. It is common for benign brain tumours to be treated successfully.

Types of benign brain tumours include:

• meningiomas, which grow from the meninges (brain coverings)
• neuromas, which grow from nerves
• pituitary tumours, which grow from the pituitary gland at the base of the brain
• cranio-pharyngiomas, which grow from structures just above the pituitary
• juvenile pilocytic astrocytomas, a type of glial cell tumour which grows from the supporting cells of the brain.
  

Malignant tumours vary in how they grow and respond to treatment. In some malignant tumours, the cancer cells spread into the surrounding normal brain. In other malignant tumours, cancer cells can spread to other parts of the central nervous system or, rarely, other parts of the body.

The most common type of malignant brain and spinal tumour is a glioma. Gliomas grow from the supporting cells of the brain. There are different types of supporting cells and the tumours are named after the type of cell they grow from. Some types of gliomas include astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma, ependymoma and glioblastoma multiforme.

Medulloblastoma is another type of malignant tumour of the central nervous system. Other, less common malignant tumours include central nervous system lymphomas, germ cell and pineal tumours.

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