The Not-So-Common Types of Brain Tumors

By Elizabeth Stannard Gromisch HERWriter

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The National Cancer Institute estimated that in 2012, about 22,910 new brain tumor cases will be diagnosed. A brain tumor is an abnormal growth of cells that can be cancerous or benign.

The abnormal cells may start in the brain (these tumors are called primary brain tumors) or they may start elsewhere in the body and travel up to the brain (these tumors are called secondary or metastatic brain tumors).

The National Brain Tumor Society noted that more than 120 types of brain tumors exist. Some types of brain tumors are more common than others.

For example, gliomas make up 45 percent of all brain tumors that start from the brain cells, according to the BC Cancer Agency. There are some types of brain tumors you may have not heard about before, as they are not so common.

Olfactory Neuroblastoma

Olfactory neuroblastoma, also called esthesioneuroblastoma, is a very rare type of brain tumor. This type of tumor forms in the patient’s nose. Johns Hopkins Medicine stated that the origin of this tumor is believed to be at the olfactory nerve.

Symptoms include nosebleed, nasal discharge and obstruction, excessive tearing from the eyes, and changes in the sense of smell. Treatments for an olfactory neuroblastoma include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.

Ganglioglioma

Gangliogliomas are rare brain tumors that start from a single cell in the brain that divides — they account for about 1 percent of all brain tumors, according to the Office of Rare Diseases Research. The majority of ganglioglioma cases are benign, but 10 percent of tumors are malignant, added the Office of Rare Diseases Research.

Patients with this type of brain tumor may undergo surgery as the primary treatment. In cases in which the full tumor is not surgically removed, the patients may also have chemotherapy or radiation.

Brain Stem Gliomas

Brain stem gliomas are a rare type of brain tumor in adults, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The tumor is located at the base of the patient’s brain, and causes symptoms to develop slowly.

When patients start having symptoms, they may experience double vision, nausea, facial weakness, speech and swallowing difficulties, and weakness in the arms, legs or both.

Because of the tumor location, patients may not be able to have surgery. Instead, treatment may include radiation therapy.

Pineoblastoma

Pineoblastomas are a rare type of tumor that are more commonly found in children. The tumor develops in the pineal gland. The Office of Rare Diseases Research noted that while the cause of pineoblastomas is not fully known, a small group of patients have mutations of the RB1 gene. The treatment plan may involve surgery first, followed by chemotherapy or radiation to get the rest of the tumor.

Grade III Meningioma

Meningiomas are a type of brain tumor that forms in the meninges, which are the tissue layers that cover the spinal cord and brain. The Cleveland Clinic noted that grade III meningiomas are rare meningeal tumors.

At grade I, the meningioma is benign, but at grade III, the tumor is malignant. Johns Hopkins Medicine noted that 1 to 4 percent of meningiomas are grade III.

Patients may have behavioral and cognitive changes, seizures, vision changes and headaches. Treatments include surgery and radiation. The National Brain Tumor Society added that chemotherapy for aggressive meningiomas are being tested in clinical trials.

These are just some of the not-so-common types of brain tumors.

References

National Cancer Institute. Brain Tumor Home Page. Web. 12 March 2012
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/brain

National Brain Tumor Society. Tumor Types. Web. 12 March 2012
http://braintumor.org/patients-family-friends/about-brain-tumors/tumor-types

BC Cancer Agency. Brain and Central Nervous System. Web. 12 March 2012
http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/PPI/TypesofCancer/BrainnCentralNervousSystem/default.htm

Johns Hopkins Medicine. Skull Base Olfactory Neuroblastoma. Web. 12 March 2012
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/neurology_neurosurgery/specialty_areas/brain_tumor/center/skull-base/types/olfactory-neuroblastoma.html

Office of Rare Diseases Research. Ganglioglioma. Web. 12 March 2012
http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/Condition/2430/Ganglioglioma.aspx/Showall
National Brain Tumor Society. Brain Stem Glioma. Web. 12 March 2012
http://www.braintumor.org/patients-family-friends/about-brain-tumors/tumor-types/brain-stem-glioma.html

Office of Rare Diseases Research. Pineoblastoma. Web. 12 March 2012
http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/QnASelected.aspx?diseaseID=9369

Cleveland Clinic. Adult Brain Tumor. Web. 12 March 2012
http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/Brain_Cancer/hic_Adult_Brain_Tumor.aspx

Johns Hopkins Medicine. Grades of Meningiomas. Web. 12 March 2012
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/neurology_neurosurgery/specialty_areas/brain_tumor/center/meningioma/meningioma-grades.html

National Brain Tumor Society. Meningioma. Web. 12 March 2012
http://www.braintumor.org/patients-family-friends/about-brain-tumors/tumor-types/Meningioma.html

Reviewed March 12, 2012
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith

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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.