Brain Tumors: Malignant vs. Benign

Brain Tumors: Malignant vs. Benign
CyberKnife Center of Chicago outlines what you need to know
about the difference between malignant versus benign brain tumors.
177 East Brush Hill Road, Elmhurst IL 60126 331-221-2050 ChicagoCK.com

Please note: We encourage consumers to thoroughly review and understand
all treatment options. The information presented here is not all-inclusive.
Rather, it represents a starting point to learn more about medical conditions
and treatment options. This is not intended as a substitute for medical advice
from your professional healthcare provider. Contact your professional
healthcare provider to find out if CyberKnife treatment is right for you.
Data source: American Cancer Society.

Brain Tumors Overview
Brain tumors are masses of abnormal cells in
the brain. Although brain tumors rarely
spread to other parts of the body, most of
them can spread through the brain tissue.
Tumors that start in the brain (primary brain
tumors) are not the same as tumors that
start in other areas of the body and then
spread to the brain (metastatic or
secondary brain tumors). In adults,
metastatic tumors to the brain are actually
more common than primary brain tumors.
The main concerns with brain and spinal
cord tumors are how readily they spread
through the rest of the brain or spinal cord
and whether they can be removed and not
come back.
The general symptoms caused by a
brain tumor depend on where the
tumor is. Symptoms may include:
¤  Headaches, seizures or balance
problems
¤  Trouble speaking
¤  A change of mood such as
depression
¤  A change in personality
¤  Weakness, stiffness or paralysis in
part of the body
¤  Changes in vision, hearing, or
other senses
¤  Tremors or involuntary
movements

Benign (Non-Cancerous) Brain Tumors
In most other parts of the body, benign tumors do not grow
into nearby tissues or spread to distant areas, so in other
parts of the body they are almost never life threatening.
However benign brain tumors can, as they grow, press on
and destroy normal brain tissue, causing damage that is
often disabling and sometimes fatal.
Benign brain tumors include:
¤  meningioma
¤  acoustic neuroma
¤  pituitary adenoma
¤  craniopharyngioma.

Malignant (Cancerous) Brain Tumors
One of the main reasons malignant tumors are so dangerous is
because they have a propensity to grow. Typical malignant
brain tumors include glioblastoma, anaplastic astrocytoma,
primary CNS lymphoma and medulloblastoma.
The American Cancer Society’s estimates for brain and spinal
cord tumors in the United States for 2014 include both adults and
children:
¤  About 23,380 malignant tumors of the brain or spinal cord (12,820
in males and 10,560 in females) will be diagnosed.
¤  Overall, the chance that a person will develop a malignant tumor
of the brain or spinal cord in his or her lifetime is less than 1%
(about 1 in 140 for a man and 1 in 180 for a woman).

Brain Tumor Treatment Options
Treatment is based on the type of tumor and other factors, and
sometimes more than one type of treatment is used. Doctors plan
each person’s treatment individually to give them the best
chance of treating the cancer while limiting the side effects as
much as possible.
¤  Surgery
¤  Stereotactic Radiosurgery (CyberKnife® or GammaKnife®)
¤  Radiation Therapy
¤  Chemotherapy
¤  Targeted Therapy

Brain Tumors + CyberKnife® Treatment
CyberKnife has the ability to treat
acoustic neuromas, brain
metastases, gliomas, meningiomas
and pituitary adenomas with
stereotactic radiosurgery.
Unlike some radiosurgery systems,
the CyberKnife doesn’t need an
invasive head frame. Other
radiosurgery systems are capable of
high-dose radiation treatment with a
variety of radiation sources.
However, some use a metal frame
attached to the patient’s skull with
screws that immobilize the head to
accurately target the tumor.
Typically, treatment is completed
in one session but could take up
to five sessions depending on the
individual diagnosis.
Treatment procedures take about
30 – 90 minutes, depending on
the complexity of the tumors.

Our Center
CyberKnife Center of Chicago opened in August 2009 as a service
of Elmhurst Memorial Hospital. Our center is a part of the new
Center for Cancer Care at Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare, offering
hope to patients in the Chicago suburbs and beyond.
If you or a loved one is diagnosed with cancer, contact CyberKnife
Center of Chicago to schedule a consultation with our physicians
to determine the next best step for your treatment needs.
Read Our
Blog!
Medical Director: Dr. Andy W. Su
CyberKnife Nurse: Griselle Romero, RN
Connect with us!

Brain Tumors: Malignant vs. Benign

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Brain Tumors: Malignant vs. Benign