Brain tumor - adults

Treatment can involve surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, as well as experimental therapies in various combinations. Therefore, these tumors are best treated by a team involving a neurosurgeon, radiation oncologist, oncologist or neuro-oncologist, and others, such as neurologists and social workers.

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More recently, "molecular subtyping" of tumors is being used to make decisions about how to best treat a particular tumor. Because these tumors are difficult to cure, patients should consider enrolling in a clinical trial after talking with their treatment team. All of the above tumors can be difficult to remove completely by surgery alone, because the tumor invades surrounding brain tissue much like roots from a plant. It is often difficult for a neurosurgeon to determine where the tumor ends.

Meningiomas are another type of brain tumor. These tumors:

Occur most commonly between the ages of 40 to 70
Much more common in women.
While 90% are benign, they still may cause devastating complications and death due to their size or location. Some are cancerous and aggressive.

Other primary brain tumors in adults are rare and can include ependymomas, craniopharyngiomas, pituitary tumors, pineal gland tumors, primary germ cell tumors of the brain, and other types.