Brain Tumors
Each year, more than 35,000 people in the United States learn that they have a primary brain tumor, a tumor that begins in the brain rather than a tumor that spreads to the brain from another form of cancer. Some of these are benign, while others can start out benign and become invasive. Symptoms range from headaches and seizures to dizziness, loss of balance, difficulty reading or writing, even changes in hearing and taste. The tumors size and location, as well as your age and health, play a large part in deciding a course of treatment.
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- Q What is a craniotomy?
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A craniotomy is the surgical removal of part of the bone from the skull to expose the brain. Specialized tools are used to remove the section of bone (called the bone flap). After brain surgery has been performed, the bone flap is replaced. Some... Full Answer
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- Q What are gliomas?
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Dr. Patrick Maguire, OncologyIn adults, the most common malignant primary brain tumors are gliomas. The most common type of glioma, also the most aggressive, is called glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and accounts for roughly 30% of all primary brain tumors. The next most aggressive... Full Answer
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- Q What are the advantages of brain surgery?
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Surgery is the first and most common treatment for most patients with brain tumors at the Johns Hopkins Comprehensive Brain Tumor Center. It is highly successful for most benign tumors. Surgery is usually the best treatment for tumors that neurosurgeons... Full Answer
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- Q How can rehabilitation help in the treatment of a brain tumor?
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Rehabilitation can be a very important part of the treatment plan. The goals of rehabilitation depend on your needs and how the tumor has affected your ability to carry out daily activities. Some people may never regain all the abilities they had before... Full Answer
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- Q Does light therapy help treat brain tumors?
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Preliminary research suggests that a combination treatment that includes light therapy may benefit people with brain tumors. Large, well-designed clinical trials are needed before further conclusions can be made. You should read product labels, and... Full Answer
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- Q What is awake brain surgery?
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Neurosurgeons at the Johns Hopkins Comprehensive Brain Tumor Center perform many brain tumor procedures while the patient is awake but sedated. This procedure is called intraoperative brain mapping, or awake brain surgery. It enables the neurosurgeons to... Full Answer
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- Q Will I need therapy after brain tumor treatment?
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There are all kinds of therapy options available after an illness or surgery. It's possible after being treated for a brain tumor that you may have some physical issues. You may need physical therapy or have balance problems and physical weakness. You... Full Answer
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- Q How are brain tumors removed endoscopically?
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Brain tumors in the area of the pituitary gland are typically removed using a technique in which surgeons remove part of the skull and "push aside" the brain to gain access to the tumor crantiotomy. This procedure involves greater risk and... Full Answer
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- Q What are the different grades of brain tumors?
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Doctors group brain tumors by grade. The grade of a tumor refers to the way the cells look under a microscope: Grade I: The tissue is benign. The cells look nearly like normal brain cells, and they grow slowly. Grade II: The tissue is malignant. The... Full Answer
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- Q How are primary brain tumors diagnosed?
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Dr. Patrick Maguire, OncologyThe standard imaging for primary brain tumors is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with gadolinium contrast. MRI shows brain anatomy, as well as presence of any small tumors, in better detail than computed tomography (CT). Occasionally, positron emission... Full Answer
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