Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Brain stem tumor
Introduction
Overview
Overview
A brain stem tumor is a tumor in the part of the brain that connects to the spinal cord (the brain stem).
Types of brain stem tumors
Types of brain stem tumors
The most common form of brainstem tumor is the brainstem glioma.
Symptoms
Symptoms
The symptoms of brain stem tumors vary greatly and can include ataxia, cranial nerve palsy, headaches, problems with speech and swallowing, hearing loss, weakness, hemiparesis, vision abnormalities, ptosis, and behavioral changes. Another possible symptom is vomiting. Headaches related to brainstem tumors may be worse shortly after waking up in the morning.[1]
Diagnosis
Diagnosis
An MRI is better than a CT scan when a brainstem tumor is in the differential diagnosis.
Treatment and prognosis
Treatment and prognosis
Treatment typically consists of radiotherapy and steroids for palliation of symptoms. Radiotherapy may result in minimally extended survival time. Prognosis is very poor, with only 37% of treated patients surviving one year or more. Topotecan has been studied in the treatment of brainstem glioma, otherwise, chemotherapy is probably ineffective, though further study is needed.[2]
References
References
External links
External links
- Brain stem tumor entry in the public domain NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]