Brain tumors can range in severity from benign (non-cancerous) to malignant (cancerous). Benign tumors tend to grow slowly and do not spread to other parts of the body, whereas malignant tumors tend to grow quickly and can invade nearby tissue.
In general, the location of a brain tumor is an important factor in determining its severity. Tumors located in critical areas of the brain, such as the brainstem or cerebellum, can be more dangerous because they can interfere with essential functions like breathing or movement. Tumors located in other areas of the brain may not be as serious, but they can still cause problems depending on their size and rate of growth.
Symptoms of a brain tumor can include headaches, seizures, changes in vision or hearing, nausea, and other neurological problems. In more serious cases, brain tumors can cause increased pressure in the skull, which can lead to permanent brain damage or death if left untreated.
Brain tumors can cause problems by:
- Directly invading and destroying healthy brain tissue.
- Putting pressure on nearby tissue.
- Increasing pressure within your skull (intracranial pressure).
- Causing fluid to build up in your brain.
- Blocking the normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) through the spaces within your brain, causing those spaces to enlarge.
- Causing bleeding in your brain.
However, some people have brain tumors that never cause symptoms or grow large enough to compress surrounding tissues.
It’s important to note that brain tumors are rare, and not everyone with symptoms will have a brain tumor. In order to determine if a brain tumor is the cause of your symptoms, your doctor will likely perform diagnostic tests such as imaging scans like MRI or CT scan. And if a brain tumor is suspected, a neurosurgeon or oncologist would need to be involved in the treatment process.