If you have been diagnosed with a brain tumor, you are likely to have many questions about diagnosis and treatment.  We will attempt to answer some common questions.  Please ask your neurosurgeon about a specific diagnosis and treatment options for you tumor.  
 
What is a brain tumor?  

A brain tumor is a mass of abnormal cells in the brain.  There are many types of brain tumors.  They can be primary or metastatic (starting in the brain or traveling to the brain from another site in the body).  They can also be benign or malignant(non-cancerous or cancerous).
 


What are some symtpoms you may experience?

The most common symptoms of brain tumors are:

Headaches

Trouble thinking, remembering, changes in personality

Vision problems

Seizures or convulsions

Loss of balance or lack or coordination

Nausea or vomiting
 
What causes the symptoms?

Where the tumor is located and the way it grows can affect the symptoms you may experience.  
It could increase pressure within the brain, compress brain tissue or destroy brain tissue. 
 
What are my treatment options? 

Your neurosurgeon will review your past medical history, any recent radiographic exams and reports and will provide personalized treatment options for your condition.  You may need to have a biopsy.  This is a surgery that removes a sample of the tumor to determine what kind of tumor it is and if it is benign or malignant.  Your treatment will be determined by the type, size and location of your tumor.  

 
Some treatment options may include surgery (craniotomy), radiation therapy, Gamma knife surgery, chemotherapy and medications.  Depending on the type of tumor you may have, some tumors do not require immediate treatment but will be watched closely instead.  
 
What is a craniotomy? 

A craniotomy is when the neurosurgeon will make an incision in your scalp and remove a small piece of your skull bone.  This will allow the neurosurgeon access to your brain to remove as much of the brain tumor as possible.  After carefully removing the tumor, the bone will be put back in place.  On occasion, it may be replaced with artificial bone or left off.  The incision will be closed with staples or stitches.  
 
There are always risks and complications with surgery.  Your neurosurgeon will discuss your risks with you before surgery.