When we hear the word "brain tumor," we get a lot of fear. That's very normal. But the most important thing we need to know is that not all brain tumors are cancerous. Today, we're going to talk about one of the most common types of brain tumors. It's called a meningioma. Let's take the fear out of it and talk about it in detail and simply.
Simply put, what is meningioma?
Think of our brain as a precious jewel. To protect this jewel, nature has created three thin layers of membranes around it. In medicine, we call these membranes the meninges . Both our brain and spinal cord are covered and protected by these membranes.
Meningioma is a tumor that starts in those protective membranes. This means that it is not a tumor that develops from the brain cells themselves, but rather from the covering that surrounds the brain.
These tumors most often develop around the top and outer corners of the brain. Sometimes they can also develop around the base of your skull. They rarely develop around the spinal cord.
The best thing about these tumors is that they often grow very slowly . So you may not even know you have one for years. Symptoms start to appear when the tumor gets bigger and starts to put pressure on parts of the brain. It is only when the function of the part of the brain that is being pressed changes that we start to feel the symptoms.
The important thing is that the majority of meningiomas are benign , meaning they do not spread to other parts of the body. However, there are rare cases where they can become malignant.
Are there types and grades of these nuts?
Yes, these fruits are divided into several types depending on their location and their growth rate. Let's understand it simply.
Types according to the location of the tumor
- Convexity meningiomas: These are the most common type. They form on the outer surface of the brain.
- Intraventricular meningiomas: This is the name given to tumors that develop inside the ventricles, the chambers in our brain that carry cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
- Olfactory groove meningiomas: These develop at the base of the skull, between the brain and the nose. They grow near the olfactory nerve, which helps us sense smell.
- Sphenoid wing meningiomas: This type develops along a bony ridge behind our eyes.
Grades according to the severity of the tumor
Doctors take a piece of the tumor and examine it (biopsy) to see how it is behaving. Accordingly, they divide it into three grades. This determines the severity of the tumor.
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| Grade I (Grade I - Typical) | These are the most common type . They are not cancerous. They grow very slowly. |
| Grade II (Grade II - Atypical) | These are not cancerous either. But they grow a little faster than grade I. They may also be a little less responsive to treatment. |
| Grade III (Grade III - Anaplastic) | These are malignant tumors. They grow very quickly and can spread. However, this type is very rare . |
What are the symptoms of a meningioma?
As we mentioned earlier, these tumors grow very slowly, so they can go unnoticed until they are large. The symptoms depend on where in the brain the tumor is pressing. For example, if the tumor is pressing on the part of your brain that controls vision, you may experience changes in your vision.
These are some of the commonly seen symptoms:
- Headache: A headache that is different from a normal headache, gradually increasing, and feels worse in the morning.
- Hearing impairment: A feeling of loss of hearing.
- Anosmia: The sudden loss of the sense of smell .
- Memory problems: Forgetting things increases.
- Muscle weakness: A feeling of numbness or weakness in an arm or leg.
- Seizures : A condition characterized by sudden loss of consciousness and convulsions.
- Vision changes: Feeling like your eyes are going out, double vision, or blurred vision.
Why do these occur? What are the risk factors?
It is often difficult to find a specific cause for these tumors. However, doctors believe that they may be caused by a genetic change in the chromosomes (chromosomal deletion) . These genetic changes can occur randomly, or they can be passed down through generations with certain genetic conditions. For example, conditions like `(Neurofibromatosis type 2)`.
Although anyone can develop meningioma, some people are at higher risk.
- Being over 65 years of age.
- Being a woman (non-cancerous tumors are more common in women. Cancerous tumors are more common in men).
- Long-term use of hormone replacement therapy or birth control pills .
- Having or currently having breast cancer .
- Having received radiation therapy to the head area.
- Having a close family member with meningioma.
How does a doctor find this?
If you have the above symptoms, when you go to see a doctor, he will first ask you a detailed question about your symptoms. Then he will do a physical examination and a neurological exam . This will test things like your balance, vision, hearing, and reflexes.
Then, to confirm this condition, they will order several brain imaging tests .
- CT scan: This can take cross-sectional images of the brain.
- MRI scan: This is the most accurate imaging test. It helps to get a very clear picture of the tumor's size, location, and relationship to other parts of the brain.
Because these tumors grow so quickly and the symptoms are similar to those of normal aging, it can sometimes take a while to recognize them. Especially when someone is older and has memory loss, we tend to think it's just a sign of aging. So it's important to tell a doctor if you notice anything unusual.
What are the treatments?
The treatment plan depends on many factors, including your age, overall health, the size, location, and grade of the tumor. This means that treatment may vary from person to person.
1. Observation
If the tumor is very small, has no symptoms, and is growing very slowly, your doctor may take a "wait-and-see" approach. This means doing nothing and monitoring the tumor's growth and symptoms with frequent scans.
2. Surgery
In most cases, the main treatment is surgical resection . If the surgeon can remove the entire tumor without damaging other parts of the brain (gross total resection) , this can completely cure the disease. However, if the tumor is located in a sensitive part of the brain, complete removal can be risky.
3. Radiation Therapy
This treatment is used to destroy any remaining tumor parts after surgery, or to stop the growth of the tumor when surgery is not possible. It uses powerful energy beams to destroy tumor cells or stop them from dividing.
4. Radiosurgery (Radiosurgery - Gamma Knife)
This isn't really a surgical procedure where you use a knife. It's a very targeted, high-energy beam of radiation that is aimed at a tumor at a single time to stop its growth. It's usually used for small, noncancerous tumors.
5. Chemotherapy
This is rarely used for meningiomas. It may sometimes be recommended for recurrent, stage III tumors that do not respond to surgery and radiation therapy.
6. Palliative Care
This does not mean giving up treatment. It means managing your symptoms (such as headaches and nausea) while you are receiving treatment, strengthening you and your family mentally and physically, and helping them maintain a high quality of life.
What happens after treatment?
Even after treatment, your doctor will continue to monitor you. He or she will do scans to check for recurrence. If the entire tumor was removed surgically, the risk of recurrence is low.
If we talk about your life expectancy, it depends on many factors.
- Your age and overall health
- The size and location of the tumor
- Whether the tumor is cancerous or not
- How much was removed during surgery?
Therefore, the best person to know the most accurate information about this is the doctor who is treating you.
The five-year survival rate for stage II and III tumors is about 63.5%. But remember, these are just statistics. Your situation could be much better.
Being diagnosed with a brain tumor can be a daunting experience, whether it's cancerous or not. The good news is that meningioma is a treatable condition. Your medical team is here to provide you with the best care and support you need. Don't hesitate to talk to them about any questions or concerns you may have.
Take-Home Message
- Meningiomas are tumors that start in the protective membranes that surround the brain. They are the most common type of brain tumor.
- Most of these are not cancerous and grow very slowly.
- Symptoms appear when the tumor grows and presses on the brain. Symptoms such as headaches, vision problems, and seizures may occur.
- There are several treatment options. Observation, surgery, and radiation therapy are the main ones. Your doctor will decide which treatment is best for you.
- Although receiving a diagnosis like this can be scary, these are very treatable conditions. Be open with your doctor and ask any questions you have.
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