What is a Tumour?

A benign tumour: Acoustic Neuroma--Curable

A tumour is an abnormal growth of cells resulting in a lump or mass of tissue.  Tumours can be benign--completely curable, or more aggressive.  Different types of tumours can occur at different locations as well.  They can arise in the nervous system or its linings either at the brain or spinal level, or outside the nervous system and exert pressure on nerve structures.  Patients can have symptoms of headache or pain, nausea and vomiting, worsened vision, double vision, weakness or sensory problems, imbalance, seizures, hormonal problems as well as other means. 

What treatments are available?

Different tumours are treated different ways.  Tumours in different locations are also treated using different techniques.  Some tumours do not require treatments.  Prior to discussion of any of these issues, the diagnosis of a tumour needs to be established.  This is generally done by obtaining a CT scan, MRI scan or sometimes both. 

In order to best treat the tumour, a specimen of the tumour may need to be taken to identify the exact cells that make it up.   Sometimes a small biopsy is recommended.  When more aggressive surgery is considered, usually a craniotomy is performed in which the scalp is incised and a bone window created to allow access to the nervous system.  In the spine, the bones outside the spinal cord or nerves are removed to allow access.  Surgery may be used on its own or may be followed by radiation therapy or chemotherapy, depending on the type of cells that make up the tumour.  Sometimes, radiosurgery can be offered as an alternative to surgery.  In this technique, the Neurosurgeon works with a radiation specialist to treat the lesion with X-ray beams and allows the avoidance of incisions.   

A spinal cord tumour

A discussion of which technique you may be a candidate for is best done with your Neurosurgeon and can only be done once the CT or MRI scans have been reviewed.

Brain tumour (Meningioma) before surgery (A-C) and after surgery (D).

ABC D