Brain tumours

Question 1

Name 2 cancers that most commonly metastasise to the brain

Answer 1

Lung, melanoma, breast, renal cell carcinoma

Question 2

1) What is the commonest primary brain tumour in adults?
2) Why are these tumours associated with vasogenic oedema?
3) What is the second commonest primary tumour in adults?
4) What kind of tumours are these?
5) How do they cause symptoms?

Answer 2

1) Glioblastoma multiforme
2) They disrupt the BBB
3) Meningioma
4) Benign extrinsic tumours of the central nervous system
5) Compression of structures rather than invasion

Question 3

1) What is an acoustic neuroma?
2) Name 2 classic symptoms of an acoustic neuroma
3) What is the investigation of choice for an acoustic neuroma, and where would this investigation be looking at?
4) What is the commonest primary brain tumour in children?
5) How do patients with pituitary adenomas usually present?
6) If the tumour grows big enough to compress the optic chiasm, what symptom does it cause?

Answer 3

1) Tumour of the Schwann cells around CN VIII
2) Hearing loss, facial nerve palsy, balance problems and tinnitus
3) Cerebellopontine angle with an MRI
4) Pilocytic astrocytoma
5) Consequences of excessive or insufficient hormone secretion
6) Bitemporal hemianopia

Question 4

Name a feature of a tumour in the temporal lobe

Answer 4

• Dysphasia
• Contralateral homonymous hemianopia
• Amnesia

Question 5

Name a feature of a tumour in the frontal lobe

Answer 5

• Hemiparesis
• Personality changes
• Broca’s dysphasia and decreased verbal fluency
• Unilateral anosmia

Question 6

Name a feature of a tumour in the parietal lobe

Answer 6

• Hemisensory loss
• Sensory inattention
• Dysphasia

Question 7

Name a feature of a tumour in the occipital lobe

Answer 7

• Contralateral visual defects
• Polyopia (seeing multiple images)

Question 8

Name a feature of a tumour in the cerebellum

Answer 8

• Dysdiadochokinesia
• Dysmetria
• Ataxia
• Nystagmus
• Intention tremor
• Slurred speech
• Hypotonia