Home > Medical Reference > Patient Education

Ask the Expert

Get answers to your Gamma Knife questions.

Note: This is for informational purposes only. Doctors cannot provide a diagnosis or individual treatment advice via e-mail. Please consult your physician about your specific health care concerns.

Brain tumors - primary - Treatment

Description

An in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of brain tumors.

Alternative Names

Gliomas; Medulloblastomas

Treatment:

The standard approach for treating brain tumors is to reduce the tumor as much as possible using surgery, radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy), or chemotherapy. Such treatments are used alone or, more commonly, in combinations.

The intensity, combination, and sequence of treatments depends on the brain tumor type (there are over 100 types of brain tumors), its size and location, and patient age, health status, and medical history. Unlike other types of cancer, there is no formal staging system for brain tumors.

With some very slow-growing cancers, such as those that occur in the midbrain or optic nerve pathway, patients may be closely observed and not treated until the tumor shows signs of growth.

Emotional Support for Patients and Caregivers

Support for patients and their families is a critical component of treatment and management. Helpful measures include:

Any physical impairment that could benefit from home equipment or physical therapy should be identified and treated.
Patients should discuss emotional as well as physical issues with their doctors. Depression, for instance, can be medically treated. Caregivers should also seek help for the inevitable stress, depression, and tension arising from their difficult role.
Relaxation techniques, meditation, and spiritual resources can be extremely helpful. Support groups are beneficial, but mental health professionals recommend separate groups for patients and their families.

Resources

www.abta.org -- American Brain Tumor Association
www.cbtf.org -- Children's Brain Tumor Foundation
www.virtualtrials.com -- Musella Foundation for Brain Tumor Research and Information
www.braintumor.org -- National Brain Tumor Society
www.neurosurgery.org -- American Association of Neurologic Surgeons
www.cancer.org -- American Cancer Society
www.cancer.gov -- National Cancer Institute
www.asco.org -- American Society for Clinical Oncology
www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials -- Find clinical trials
www.radiologyinfo.org -- RadiologyInfo
www.cancer.net -- Cancer.Net

References

Bowers DC, Liu Y, Leisenring W, McNeil E, Stovall M, Gurney JG, et al. Late-occurring stroke among long-term survivors of childhood leukemia and brain tumors: a report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. J Clin Oncol. 2006 Nov 20;24(33):5277-82. Epub 2006 Nov 6.

Buckner JC, Brown PD, O'Neill BP, Meyer FB, Wetmore CJ, Uhm JH. Central nervous system tumors. Mayo Clin Proc. 2007 Oct;82(10):1271-86.

Chandana SR, Movva S, Arora M, Singh T. Primary brain tumors in adults. Am Fam Physician. 2008 May 15;77(10):1423-30.

Krex D, Klink B, Hartmann C, von Deimling A, Pietsch T, Simon M, et al. Long-term survival with glioblastoma multiforme. Brain. 2007 Oct;130(Pt 10):2596-606. Epub 2007 Sep 4.

Nathan PC, Patel SK, Dilley K, Goldsby R, Harvey J, Jacobsen C, et al. Guidelines for identification of, advocacy for, and intervention in neurocognitive problems in survivors of childhood cancer: a report from the Children's Oncology Group. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2007 Aug;161(8):798-806.

National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: Central nervous system cancers. V.1.2008

Neglia JP, Robison LL, Stovall M, Liu Y, Packer RJ, Hammond S, et al. New primary neoplasms of the central nervous system in survivors of childhood cancer: a report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2006 Nov 1;98(21):1528-37.

Norden AD, Young GS, Setayesh K, Muzikansky A, Klufas R, Ross GL, et al.Bevacizumab for recurrent malignant gliomas: efficacy, toxicity, and patterns of recurrence. Neurology. 2008 Mar 4;70(10):779-87.

Sathornsumetee S, Reardon DA, Desjardins A, Quinn JA, Vredenburgh JJ, Rich JN. Molecularly targeted therapy for malignant glioma. Cancer. 2007 Jul 1;110(1):13-24.

Wen PY, Kesari S. Malignant gliomas in adults. N Engl J Med. 2008 Jul 31;359(5):492-507.

Reviewed last on: 12/5/2008
Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

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).

Connect with UMMC

© 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