Symptoms:

Symptoms may be subtle and only gradually become worse, or they may occur very quickly.

Headaches are probably the most common symptom. Patterns that may occur with brain tumors include:

• Headache that gets worse when waking up in the morning, and then clear up within a few hours
• Headaches that may get worse with coughing or exercise, or with a change in body position
• Headaches that occur while sleeping and with at least one other symptom (such as vomiting or confusion)

Patients with brain tumors may have a seizure. This may be the first symptom or sign.

Sometimes the only symptoms of brain tumors are mental changes, which may include:

• Changes in personality and behavior
• Impaired concentration
• Increased sleep
• Memory loss
• Problems with reasoning

Other possible symptoms are:

• Gradual loss of movement or feeling in an arm or leg
• Hearing loss, with or without dizziness
• Speech difficulty
• Unexpected vision problem (especially if it occurs with a headache), including vision loss (usually of peripheral vision) in one or both eyes, or double vision
• Unsteadiness and problems with balance
• Weakness or numbness

Signs and tests:

The health care provider will perform a physical exam. Infants may have the following physical signs:

• Bulging fontanelles
• Enlarged eyes
• No red reflex in the eye
• Positive Babinski's reflex
• Separated sutures

The following tests may be used to detect a brain tumor and identify its location:

• CT-guided biopsy (may confirm the exact type of tumor)
• CT scan of the head
• EEG
• Examination of the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF)
• MRI of the head