A Member of the University of Maryland Medical System | In Partnership with the University of Maryland School of Medicine

Get answers to your Gamma Knife questions.
Hypothalamic glioma
A hypothalamic tumor is an abnormal growth in the hypothalamus gland, which is located in the brain.
The exact cause of hypothalamic tumors is not known. It is likely that they result from a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
In children, most hypothalamic tumors are gliomas. Gliomas are a common type of brain tumor that results from the abnormal growth of glial cells, which are a type of cells that support nerve cells. Gliomas can occur at any age, but they are often more aggressive in adults than children.
In adults, tumors in the hypothalamus are more likely to have result from the spread of cancer from another organ.
People with neurofibromatosis (a hereditary condition) are at increased risk for this type of tumor in particular, and those who have undergone radiation therapy are at increased risk for developing tumors in general.
Molitch ME. Neuroendocrinology and the neuroendocrine system. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 241.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).
© 2011 University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). All rights reserved.
UMMC is a member of the University of Maryland Medical System,
22 S. Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21201. TDD: 1-800-735-2258 or 1.866.408.6885