Tumours of the Nervous System Flashcards
(33 cards)
How do brain tumours tend to present?
Progressive neurological deficit - 68%
Motor weakness - 45%
Headache - 54%
Seizure - 26%
What type of brain herniation kills you?
Tonsillar herniation
What features of a headache are indicative of it being due to raised ICP?
- Worse in the morning
- Wakes patient up
- Worse with coughing & leaning forward
- Vomiting
What is the frontal lobe responsible for?
Reasoning
Behaviour
Motor
What is the temporal lobe responsible for?
Memory
Hearing
Language
What is the parietal lobe responsible for?
Sensation
What is the occipital lobe responsible for?
Vision
How is a brain cancer diagnosed?
MRI imaging
Lesion biopsy (formal diagnosis)
What is the commonest type of brain tumour?
Metastatic
How many grades of astrocytic tumours are there?
4
Who is most likely to have a grade 1 astrocytic tumour?
children & young adults
Where are grade 1 astrocytomas found most often?
posterior fossa
What is the treatment for a grade 1 astrocytoma?
Surgery if effecting function
How do grade 2 astrocytoma’s present?
seizures
What is the treatment for grade 2 astrocytoma?
Surgery +/- Chemo/Radio
What grades of astrocytoma’s are considered malignant?
3 & 4
Name a grade 3 astrocytoma
Anaplastic astrocytoma
Name a grade 4 astrocytoma
Glioblastoma multiforme
What is the most common primary brain tumour?
Glioblastoma multiforme
How are malignant astrocytoma’s treated?
- Surgery to reduce mass
- Post-op radiotherapy + Temozolomide (chemo)
How long are patients unable to drive for if they have brain tumour surgery?
Benign - 6 months
Malignant - 1 year
HGV - double
What drug is used as chemo for malignant and benign astrocytoma’s?
Malignant - Temozolomide
Benign - PCV
What is the most common benign brain tumour?
Meningiomas
What is the treatment of choice for meningioma?
Surgery
