Brain Tumors

Brain tumours are abnormal growths inside the skull. They can be benign (slow-growing, usually curable by surgery) or malignant (cancerous, faster growing) — both can cause problems because of their location inside a closed space. Metastatic brain tumours (spread from other cancers) are more common than primary brain cancers in adults.

Symptoms

• New persistent headaches — worse in the morning, with vomiting, or changing character.
• Seizures — especially first-ever seizure in an adult.
• New weakness or numbness on one side.
• Trouble with speech, vision, balance, coordination.
• Memory or personality changes.
• Hormonal changes with pituitary tumours.
• Hearing loss or ringing on one side (acoustic neuroma).
• In children — morning headache and vomiting, head enlarging in infants, irritability, new squint, failing school performance.

Red flags — dial 112

• Sudden severe headache ("worst ever").
• Seizure, especially first.
• Loss of consciousness.
• Sudden weakness, slurred speech, facial droop.
• Severe drowsiness or confusion.

Diagnosis

MRI with contrast is the key test. CT is often the first available in emergency. Biopsy (sometimes via surgery) confirms the type; molecular tests (IDH, MGMT, 1p/19q) now guide treatment decisions in gliomas.

Treatment

• Surgery — when safely feasible; extent of safe removal affects outcome.
• Radiation therapy.
• Chemotherapy — for certain tumour types.
• Targeted therapies — expanding for specific molecular subtypes.
• Steroids for swelling; anti-epileptic drugs if seizures.
• Stereotactic radiosurgery for selected small tumours.
• Multi-disciplinary neuro-oncology teams — neurosurgery, radiation oncology, medical oncology, rehabilitation — give the best outcomes.

Diagnosis and advanced treatment is available at teaching hospitals, neuro-surgery centres and Regional Cancer Centres across Indian cities. For selected paediatric brain tumours, dedicated paediatric oncology centres make a substantial difference to outcomes.