Brain Tumors Treated by Neurosurgeons in Baltimore at Mercy Medical Center

A brain tumor is a mass of abnormal cells in the brain. A brain tumor can be:

• Benign – noncancerous
• Malignant – cancerous

There are many different types of brain tumors, all of which can be classified as a primary tumor or a secondary tumor.

Primary Tumor

A primary brain tumor starts in the brain due to abnormal cells, and is named and classified by the type of cells it involves. In adults, the most common types of primary brain tumors include:

• Gliomas
• Meningiomas
• Schwannomas

Secondary Tumor

A secondary tumor occurs in the brain due to cancerous cells spreading to the brain from another area of the body (metastatic cancer). The most common types of cancer that cause secondary brain tumors include:

• Lung Cancer
• Colon Cancer
• Breast Cancer
• Kidney Cancer

Symptoms of a brain tumor vary based on the type, location and size of a brain tumor. Symptoms can include:

• Headaches - change in pattern or severity or newly occurring
• Vision or hearing problems  
• Trouble with balance
• Seizures
• Changes in mental functionality

To diagnose the presence of a brain tumor, a doctor may perform one or more of the following:

• CT scan of the head
• MRI of the head
• EEG (electroencephalogram) to measure brain activity
• PET scan
• Biopsy to collect tissue
• CT scan to check for cancer in other parts of the body if the tumor is a suspected secondary tumor

Treatment options for a brain tumor vary by the type, location and severity of the tumor. Treatment options may include:

• Surgery
• Radiation therapy
• Chemotherapy