Brain Tumors

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Brain Tumors

• Created and presented by
• Carla Mastrangelo

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My Main Focus

• How brain tumors are diagnosed and how they are
  treated.

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A brief outline

• What exactly is a tumor?
• Basic types and categories of brain tumors
• Symptoms and caused effects
• How brain tumors are diagnosed
• FDA approved treatments
• The problema summary
• Facts and figures

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What exactly is a tumor?

• A tumor is an abnormal mass of tissue that
  results from excessive cell division, and is
  uncontrolled and progressive. A tumor can occur
  in any part of your body.

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Basic types and categories of brain tumors

• Brain tumors are based on whether they are
  primary or secondary
• Primary tumor Initially forms in the brain.
• Secondary tumor results from a cancer that
  began somewhere else in the body but has
  ultimately spread to the brain

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Types and categories cont.

• Furthermore, there are two categories that brain
  tumors are placed in. These include
• Malignant, meaning the tumor is cancerous.
• Benign, meaning the Tumor is not cancerous.

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Symptoms

• The following symptoms could suggest a possible
  brain tumor
• Unsteadiness or imbalance
• A new seizure in an adult
• Loss of vision or double vision
• Hearing loss
• Severe headaches associated with nausea or
  vomiting, and/or weakness and numbness

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Diagnosing a brain tumor

• If you experience one or several of the
  symptoms already discussed, it would be wise to
  see neurologist. In this case you might undergo
  a MRI, CT scan, or a PET However in most cases
  the first test for a possible brain tumor is a
  neurological exam. Also if necessary a biopsy
  might be performed on the patient.

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Diagnostic Procedures

• Neurological Exam checks eye movement, eye
  reflexes, and pupil reactions . Also records
  hearing, sensation, balance and coordination.
• Computed Tomography (CT) Uses a X-ray machine
  and a computer to produce an image of the bodys
  tissues and structures. Often times, iodine dye
  (a.k.a., contrast material) is injected into the
  patient before the scan, allowing abnormal tissue
  to be detected easier.
• -Helps locate the tumor, and also detects
  bleeding and swelling.

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Diagnostic Procedures cont. ..

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Instead of a
  X-ray, a magnetic field is used to accurately
  differentiate between healthy and diseased
  tissue.
• -Unlike CT scan, MRI does not use radiation
• - Provides pictures from various angles, so
  doctors can produce a three dimensional image of
  the tumor.
• -Contrast material is also injected in the
  patient.

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Diagnostic procedures cont

• Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Rather
  than producing structural images of your brain, a
  PET provides a picture of brain activity.
• - These are most useful in detecting recurrent
  tumors.
• Biopsy A surgical procedure to collect a sample
  of tissue from the suspected tumor.

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Smart things to do

• When being diagnosed with a brain tumor, you
  should always get more than one opinion.
• Make sure to keep copies of all your reports,
  including MRI films, and pathology reports.
• Keep a journal of emotional, mental and physical
  symptoms.

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Treatments

• Standard treatments for brain tumors include,
  radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery. Along with
  these treatments there several medications
  prescribed to brain tumor patients. Some of the
  common medications are steroids, anticoagulants,
  anti depressants, anticonvulsants, and antinausea
  medications.

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FDA Approved Treatments

• What does this mean?
• FDA approved treatments means that that the
  treatments that have been proven safe and
  effective, but not necessarily without side
  effects.

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New treatment approved by FDA

• In August 1999, the first new chemotherapy for
  recurrent brain tumors in adult patients is
  approved. This drug, called TEMODAR
  (temozolomide) is the first oral chemotherapeutic
  agent that directly interferes with the growth of
  anaplastic astrocytomas. This is a specific kind
  of primary brain tumor that grow very rapidly and
  contain cell with some malignant traits. Before
  TEMODAR was used as a treatment, surgery and
  radiation were both options. TEMODAR has proven
  very effective, and is recommended to any
  qualified patient.

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The Summary

• Brain tumors are a complex disease that strike
  over 100,000 Americans annually. The symptoms
  are debilitating and the cure rate in several
  types of tumors is very low. Unfortunately
  tumors can not be prevented because the cause is
  still unknown.

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Bibliography

• Websites
• 1. The Brain Tumor Society,
• http//www.tbts.orfg
• 2. http//Cancerweb.ncl.ac
• 3. Clinical Trials and Noteworthy Treatments
  for Brain Tumors,
• http//www.Gliadel.com

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Bibliography Cont.

• 4. Medical dictionary,
• http//www.Intelihealth.com/dictionary
• Primary Sources
• New Brain Tumor Treatment Approved by FDA,
• http//www.fda.org
• 2. Anaplastic astrocytomas,
• http//brighamrad.harvard.edu/cases/full.htm
• Thomas F Gudas, MD, Roman A Klufus, MD