Glioblastoma and ascorbate

What is a Brain Tumour?

A brain tumour occurs when abnormal cells form within the brain. There are two main types of tumours: cancerous tumours and benign (non-cancerous) tumours. Cancerous tumours can be divided into primary tumours, which start within the brain, and secondary tumours, which have spread from elsewhere, known as brain metastasis tumours. All types of brain tumours may produce symptoms that vary depending on the part of the brain involved. These symptoms may include headaches, seizures, problems with vision, vomiting and mental changes. The headache is classically worse in the morning and goes away with vomiting. Other symptoms may include difficulty walking, speaking or with sensations. As the disease progresses, unconsciousness may occur.

The cause of most brain tumours is unknown. Uncommon risk factors include exposure to vinyl chloride, Epstein–Barr virus, ionising radiation, and inherited syndromes such as neurofibromatosis, tuberous sclerosis, and von Hippel-Lindau Disease. Studies on mobile phone exposure have not shown a clear risk. The most common types of primary tumours in adults are meningiomas (usually benign) and astrocytomas such as glioblastomas. In children, the most common type is a malignant medulloblastoma. Diagnosis is usually by medical examination along with computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).