Tumours of the CNS

Question 1

What are the two types of tumours within the Central Nervous System?

Answer 1

1. Primary Tumours: Tumours that starts in the brain or CNS
2. Secondary or metastatic Tumours: Cancers that started somewhere else in the body (lungs/breast/colon) but have spread to the brain

Question 2

What are the primary tumours divided into?

Answer 2

1. Intracerebral Tumours: Tumours that start within the brain itself
   - Astrocytomas: Tumours that start in the astrocytes (type of glial cell)
   - Oligodendrogliomas: Tumours that start in oligodendrocytes (type of glial cell)
2. Extracerebral Tumours: Tumours that start outside the brain but still within the head
   - Meningiomas: Tumours that start in the membranes
   - Tumours of the pituitary and pineal glands: small glands in the brain that can also develop tumours

Question 3

What are the symptoms of these tumours?

Answer 3

Tumors in the brain can cause symptoms, depending on where they are and how big they are. Common symptoms include:

Seizures: Sudden electrical activity in the brain that can cause uncontrolled movements.
Loss of Equilibrium: Problems with balance and coordination.

Question 4

Summarise the tumours in the CNS

Answer 4

• Tumors in the CNS can start in the brain itself (primary) or spread from other parts of the body (secondary).
• They may cause symptoms like seizures and balance issues.