Types of Adult Brain Tumor
Brain Stem Gliomas
Pineal Astrocytic Tumor
Pilocytic Astrocytoma (grade I)
Diffuse Astrocytoma (grade II)
Anaplastic Astrocytoma (grade III)
Glioblastoma (grade IV)
Oligodendroglial Tumors
Mixed Gliomas
Ependymal Tumors
Medulloblastoma (grade IV)
Pineal Parenchymal Tumors
Meningeal Tumors
Germ Cell Tumor
Craniopharyngioma (grade II)
Other Adult Brain Tumors
Recurrent Adult Brain Tumor
Metastatic Brain Tumors
The extent or spread of cancer is usually described as stages. There is no standard staging system for brain tumors. Primary brain tumors may spread within the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), but they rarely spread to other parts of the body. For treatment, brain tumors are classified by the type of cell in which the tumor began, the location of the tumor in the central nervous system, and the grade of the tumor.
Types of adult brain tumors include the following:
Brain Stem Gliomas
These are tumors that form in the brain stem, the part of the brain connected to the spinal cord. They are often high-grade. Brain stem gliomas that are high-grade or spread widely throughout the brain
stem are difficult to treat successfully. To prevent damage to healthy brain tissue, brain stem
glioma is usually diagnosed without a biopsy.
(Refer to the PDQ summary on Childhood Brain Stem Glioma Treatment for more information.)
Pineal Astrocytic Tumor
Pineal tumors form in or near the pineal gland. The pineal gland
is a tiny organ in the brain that produces the hormone melatonin, a substance
that helps control our sleeping and waking cycle. There are several kinds of pineal tumors. Pineal astrocytic tumors
are astrocytomas that occur in the pineal region and may be any grade.
Pilocytic Astrocytoma (grade I)
Astrocytomas are tumors that start in brain cells called astrocytes. Pilocytic astrocytomas grow slowly and
rarely spread into the tissues around them. These tumors occur most often in children and young adults. They usually can
be treated successfully.
Diffuse Astrocytoma (grade II)
Diffuse astrocytomas grow slowly, but they often spread into nearby tissues. Some of them progress to a higher grade. They occur most often in young adults.
Anaplastic Astrocytoma (grade III)
Anaplastic astrocytomas are also called malignant astrocytomas. They grow rapidly and spread into nearby tissues. The tumor cells look different from normal
cells. The average age of patients developing anaplastic astrocytomas is 41 years.
Glioblastoma (grade IV)
Glioblastomas are malignant astrocytomas that grow and spread aggressively. The cells look very different from normal cells. Glioblastoma is
also called glioblastoma multiforme or grade IV astrocytoma. They occur most often in adults between the ages of 45 and 70 years.
Refer to the following PDQ summaries for more information on astrocytomas:
Oligodendroglial Tumors
Oligodendroglial tumors begin in the brain cells called
oligodendrocytes, which support and nourish nerve cells. Grades of oligodendroglial tumors include the following:
-
Oligodendroglioma (grade II): Oligodendrogliomas are slow-growing tumors with cells that look very much like normal cells. These tumors occur most often in patients between the ages of 40 and 60 years.
-
Anaplastic oligodendroglioma (grade III): Anaplastic oligodendrogliomas grow quickly and the cells look
very different from normal cells.
Mixed Gliomas
Mixed gliomas are brain tumors that contain more than one type of cell. The prognosis is affected by the cell type with the highest grade present in the tumor.
Ependymal Tumors
Ependymal tumors usually begin in cells that line the
spaces in the brain and
around the spinal cord. These spaces contain cerebrospinal fluid, a liquid that cushions
and protects the brain and spinal cord. Grades of ependymal
tumors include the following:
-
Grade I and grade II ependymomas: These ependymomas grow slowly and have cells that look very much like normal cells. They can often be removed completely by surgery.
-
Anaplastic ependymoma (grade III): Anaplastic ependymomas grow very quickly.
(Refer to the PDQ summary on Childhood Ependymoma Treatment for more information.)
Medulloblastoma (grade IV)
Medulloblastomas are brain tumors that begin in the lower back of
the brain. They are formed from abnormal brain cells at a very early stage in development. Medulloblastomas are usually found in children or young adults between the ages of 21 and 40 years. This type
of cancer may spread from the brain to the spine through the cerebrospinal fluid.
(Refer to the PDQ summary on Childhood Central Nervous System Embryonal Tumors for more information.)
Pineal Parenchymal Tumors
Pineal parenchymal tumors form from parenchymal cells or pinocytes, the cells that make up most of the pineal gland. These differ from pineal astrocytic tumors, which are astrocytomas that form in tissue that supports the pineal gland. Grades of pineal parenchymal
tumors include the following:
-
Pineocytomas (grade II): Pineocytomas are slow-growing pineal tumors that occur most often in adults aged 25 to 35.
-
Pineoblastomas (grade IV): Pineoblastomas are rare and highly malignant. They usually occur in children.
(Refer to the PDQ summary on Childhood Central Nervous System Embryonal Tumors for more information.)
Meningeal Tumors
Meningeal tumors form in the meninges, thin layers of tissue that cover the
brain and spinal cord. Types of meningeal tumors include the following:
Germ Cell Tumor
Germ cell tumors arise from germ cells, cells that are meant to form sperm in the testicles or eggs in the ovaries, These cells may travel to other parts of the body and form tumors. Types of germ cell tumors
include germinomas, embryonal cell carcinomas, choriocarcinomas, and teratomas. They can occur anywhere in the body and can be either benign or malignant. In the brain, they usually form in the center,
near the pineal gland, and can spread to other parts of the brain and spinal cord. Most germ cell tumors occur in children.
(Refer to the PDQ summary on Childhood Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors Treatment Overview for more information.)
Craniopharyngioma (grade II)
Craniopharyngiomas occur in the sellar region of the brain, near the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland is a small organ about the size of a pea, located at the base of
the brain. This gland controls many of the body's functions, especially growth.
In adults, these tumors occur most often after the age of 50 years. Craniopharyngiomas can press on vital brain tissue and cause symptoms to
appear. The tumors can also block fluid in the brain and cause swelling.
The prognosis is good for craniopharyngiomas that are completely removed in surgery.
Pituitary tumors also occur in this region. Refer to the PDQ summary on Pituitary Tumors Treatment for more information.
Other Adult Brain Tumors
For information about other types of adult brain tumors, refer to the PDQ health professional summary on Adult Brain Tumors.
Recurrent Adult Brain Tumor
Recurrent adult brain tumor is a tumor that has recurred (come back)
after it has been treated. Adult brain tumors often recur, sometimes many years
after the first tumor. The tumor may come back in the brain or in other parts
of the body.
Metastatic Brain Tumors
The types of cancer that commonly spread to the brain are melanoma and cancers of the lung, breast, unknown primary site, and colon. About half of metastatic spinal cord tumors are caused by lung cancer.
Prognosis depends on the following:
- Whether the patient is younger than 60 years.
- Whether there are fewer than 3 tumors in the brain and/or spinal cord.
- The location of the tumors in the brain and/or spinal cord.
- How well the tumor responds to treatment.
- Whether the primary tumor continues to grow or spread.
The prognosis is better for brain metastases from breast cancer than from other types of primary cancer. The prognosis is worse for brain metastases from colon cancer.
Back to Top
< Previous Section | Next Section > |