A brain tumor is a very serious and dangerous disease, but it can be cured if you notice the symptoms at an early stage. In our material we will tell you what to pay attention to and when it is worth going to a doctor immediately. Early detection of the disease will allow you to avoid serious consequences.
Types of tumors and characterization
Neoplasms formed in the head can (vessels, tissues, on the shell), are divided into benign and malignant. And those and others - a threat to human life, since the presence of tumors leads to deformation of areas that are responsible for vital functions in the body.
Depending on the cause of education, they are:
- Primary, which appear from their own tissues (benign tumors).
- Secondary - a result of metastases of other organs (malignant).
Symptoms of a tumor at the very beginning of development can be quite difficult to determine, but without this, diagnostics would not be properly carried out, since each type of neoplasm requires an individual approach to treatment.
Thus, in oncology, tumors are usually divided by cell type:
- Neuroepithelial. They can appear in any part of the brain or spinal cord, are formed from its own tissues.
- Pituitary adenoma. Most often occurs as a result of injury, infections, pathologies during pregnancy.
- Shell, expanding from the membranes of the cerebral cortex.
- Neuromas, or tumorous nerves.
The treatment of such neoplasms is carried out by the removal method, in which case the opening of the skull is performed. There is also a more benign endoscopic method that does not provide for trepanning. There are also several of the following techniques:
- HIFU-therapy, as a result of which ultrasound waves affect the tumor;
- radiosurgery or radiation of the nidus;
- the use of a special spatial scalpel, which allows you to remove tumors located in hard to reach places.
The main causes of
Let's take a closer look at why such tumors can form.
Benign tumor
At the moment, neither doctors nor scientists can not name the exact reason for their appearance. This may be associated diseases, and radiation, heredity. Benign growths grow rather slowly, do not give metastases.
Their main danger is that it puts pressure on neighboring areas, which can cause serious consequences, there is also a danger of developing cancer.
During this period it is very important to diagnose in time and begin an effective treatment.
The main symptoms include:
- dizziness;
- headaches;
- vomiting;
- convulsions;
- coordination problems;
- paralysis of the arms and legs;
- memory loss and hearing problems;
- speech impairment.
Malignant neoplasms
If time does not begin treatment, the tumor will begin to penetrate into other tissues, i.e. transformed into malignant. When this occurs, bleeding, neurosis, often cancer takes an inoperable form, resulting in a lethal outcome occurs in just a couple of months.
Early signs early
As we have said, it is very important to detect the symptoms in time and go to the doctor immediately. Let's look at what symptoms, developing in the initial stage, you should pay attention.
First of all it is:
- dull aching in head;
- vomiting in the morning;
- loss of hearing or sight ("flies" appear).
The most important thing is headaches that last for a long time, most acutely manifesting themselves in the morning and evening. At the same time, there is a feeling of nausea, and tumors in the cerebellum can lead to paresis.
In adults
At an early stage, a sharp decrease in weight can be observed, since tumors destroy metabolic metabolic processes. Also, men and women can feel a strong weakness, which is caused by infection of infected cells in the blood. There may be signs such as fever and a change in hair structure.
There are a number of precipitating factors:
- work with radiation;
- diseases associated with impaired immunity;
- organ transplantation.
Teenagers
Often, tumors in the brain stem occur in children. Symptoms are very similar to how the formation of a neoplasm in adults manifests itself: headaches, back pain, strabismus, arrest in development, problems with hearing and vision.
Diagnostics, predictions and consequences
If you find the initial signs of this disease, you should immediately go to the doctor, who will prescribe a biochemical blood test. In addition, an optometrist can also detect a neoplasm at an early stage by examining the fundus of the eye. And in order to find out exactly the reason, it is better to go to several doctors.
To specify the diagnosis is usually prescribed:
- MRI;
- computed tomography;
- puncture of cerebrospinal fluid;
- angiography of vessels.
Thanks to the modern development of medicine, it was possible to carry out the most complex operations on the brain, which made it possible to significantly increase the survival rate. However, an important condition for a good result is the diagnosis of the disease at an early stage: in this case, the survival rate will be 80%.
A positive prognosis for this diagnosis depends on a lot:
- The location of the tumor.
- The patient's age (the younger, the higher the survival rate).
- The prevalence of the tumor and its type.
- General health.
For example, if we talk about children under 10 years old, then after surgery they may experience problems with data processing, information, visual functions may suffer. This is due to the intervention in those parts of the brain that are responsible for the important functions of the body.
In adults, effects such as:
- paralysis;
- dementia:
- speech impairment, blindness, hearing problems;
- lethal outcomes.
As you can see, even with a high-quality operation, many consequences cannot be avoided. That is why it is so important to notice the above signs in time and consult a doctor at an early stage, because the younger the tumor, the less damage it will cause to the body, and the process of its treatment itself will be much more effective.
