Brain Tumors

Brain Tumors Overview

Brain tumors are abnormal cell masses or growths in the brain. There are several brain tumor types:

  • Benign (noncancerous)
  • Malignant (cancerous)
  • Primary (grows in the brain)
  • Secondary (grows in the body and spreads to the brain)

Patients who experience brain tumor symptoms should make an appointment with a Carolina Orthopaedic and Neurosurgical Associates’ (CONA) brain tumor specialist as soon as possible.

Symptoms & Causes

Brain tumor symptoms include:

  • Balance difficulties
  • Blurred vision
  • Confusion
  • Difficulty speaking
  • Headaches
  • Migraines
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Vertigo

Cell mutations cause primary brain tumors. Different types of cancer cause secondary brain tumors. Risk factors are:

  • Family history
  • Radiation exposure

Common Treatments:

After a thorough evaluation, a CONA brain tumor specialist may recommend:

  • Chemotherapy
  • Minimally invasive surgery
  • Targeted drug therapy

Diagnosis:

A CONA brain tumor specialist:

  • Obtains a complete medical history
  • Performs a thorough neurosurgical evaluation
  • Performs a thorough physical examination
  • Orders and analyzes an MRI and CT scan
  • Tests other parts of the body for cancer

A biopsy is performed in many cases. A tiny needle is used to take a small sample of abnormal tissue. The sample is sent to a lab for analysis. Lab results are sent to the CONA brain tumor specialist for review.

Meet Our Awarded Specialists