What causes brain cancer? How to identify brain cancer

Brain cancer in structure oncological diseases does not occupy a leading position. The exception is children. In them, tumors of the central nervous system are slightly less common than hemoblastoses (neoplastic tumors of the hematopoietic system). For adult patients, the statistics are different. The top rows are occupied by tumors reproductive system, skin, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory system, mammary glands. However, this does not make brain cancer any less dangerous.

The early stages of the disease often go unnoticed due to the absence of symptoms or their nonspecificity. The first signs are so insignificant that neither the patient himself nor even the therapist, to whom such patients first turn, take them into account. A consultation with a neurologist, much less an MRI of the brain, is rarely prescribed at this stage. Typically the patient is treated for arterial hypertension, vegetative-vascular dystonia. The increase in symptoms and the addition of specific neurological manifestations changes the tactics, but by that time time is lost.

Brain cancer in women: early stages

Statistically, men suffer from brain cancer slightly more often than women. This is where the differences end. The signs of the disease are similar in both, and depend, first of all, on the location of the pathological formation. Symptoms different types tumors may differ greatly, but the clinical development pattern for all brain cancers is the same.

The onset of the disease is the stage of compensation. very small and practically unable to influence the relative position of brain structures and intracranial pressure. Cancer at this stage does not cause any inconvenience to the patient; it can only be detected by chance. For example, when performing an MRI after a head injury or stroke. If by luck the tumor was diagnosed, it is important not to miss the moment for radical treatment. It is unfortunate that the patient is not always aware of the danger of his situation. Some people believe that if there are no symptoms, there is nothing to worry about, and they postpone further testing and treatment indefinitely.

The first signs usually appear at the subcompensation stage. Manifestations are varied and often nonspecific. If brain cancer debuts with a pronounced neurological clinical picture, this increases the likelihood of rapid detection of the tumor. Cramps, numbness in certain parts of the body, weakness in the arms and legs force you to seek help at the right place. Such patients are treated by a neurologist, and to find out the cause, a CT scan or MRI of the brain is prescribed, which can detect a tumor even without large sizes.

However, more often than not everything is not so simple. Decreased visual acuity or hearing, for example, are no longer so specific. Such symptoms will most likely lead the patient to the office of an ophthalmologist or otolaryngologist. Will the doctor be able to suspect the worst or limit himself to writing a prescription for glasses? Of course, no one will refer absolutely all patients with myopia to an MRI. This requires more compelling reasons. This means that the risk of missing a favorable period of time for treatment increases.

Some symptoms do not cause concern to the patient at all. Brain cancer can manifest itself as fatigue, irritability, periodic headaches, spots before the eyes, and dizziness. The vast majority of patients ignore such symptoms, attributing them to lack of sleep, chronic stress, poor nutrition. Besides, listed signs very well describe VSD (vegetative-vascular dystonia), the exact mechanisms of which are not completely clear. However, it is very convenient to attribute to it manifestations that do not fit into a clear clinical picture, frivolous, nonspecific, arising seemingly out of nowhere.

Manifestations of malignant brain tumors in women: late stages

If the first warning signs were ignored or misinterpreted, or went unnoticed altogether, the disease has the opportunity to develop. Cancer, unlike benign tumors, tends to rapid growth. And if in the case of some pathologies (pituitary microadenoma, for example), a wait-and-see approach is possible, then with cancer this is unacceptable. Delay in treatment means irretrievably lost opportunities and invariably worsens the prognosis.

The stage of decompensation occurs when brain cancer reaches a significant size and begins to affect neighboring structures: compress or grow into them. There are obvious neurological symptoms, indicating the localization of the process. Subsequently, they are joined by signs of increased intracranial pressure. It is no longer possible to ignore such symptoms, and it is also difficult to make a mistake in the examination tactics. The trouble is different: if brain cancer has ceased to camouflage itself, it has probably reached a stage where radical treatment is difficult or impossible.

The last (terminal) stage of the disease leaves the patient no hope for favorable outcome. The tumor is large, often giving rise to numerous shoots into neighboring structures, often disrupting the functions important for life nerve centers. It is no longer possible to radically remove it. There remains the possibility of resection of part of the tumor, as well as the administration of chemotherapy and irradiation of the tumor. This allows you to slow down reproduction and growth cancer cells, but still only means a delay in the inevitable sad ending.

Bottom line

Oncological pathology of the central nervous system is not one of the most common tumors; it affects men and women with almost equal probability. However, despite its relative (compared to other malignant neoplasms) rarity, brain cancer is very insidious. The first symptoms are subtle and do not always allow a tumor to be suspected in a timely manner.

It’s scary that even a patient’s attentive and responsible attitude towards their health and timely contact with a doctor at the first signs of illness does not guarantee a correct diagnosis. Screening methods to detect brain cancer early stages, No. An annual MRI examination could solve the problem, but, unfortunately, the method is too expensive to use on the same scale as, for example, fluorography.

In this article we will look at the symptoms and signs of brain cancer. What kind of disease is this?

Brain cancer is rare disease and at the same time little studied. It is often fatal. At the same time, as doctors say, characteristic feature Cancer patients almost always suffer from extreme neglect of the disease, when the chances of a cure are much less than they could be. Let's find out what are the first signs of early-stage brain cancer in adult patients.

Description of the pathology

This is extremely dangerous disease, which is difficult to treat and can lead to the death of the patient. The greatest threat is posed by the asymptomatic course of the disease. Mostly, severe symptoms The fourth stage is different, but at this stage the disease is difficult to treat, and the prognosis for such people is disappointing.

The symptoms of brain cancer in women are not particularly different from those in men.

Confusion is possible

At the same time, the symptoms with which a patient may consult a doctor can easily be confused with signs of other diseases. For example, headaches along with vomiting and dizziness in combination with blurred vision are often observed with migraines and hypertensive crisis. In addition, pain in the head can be caused by osteochondrosis. In this regard, therapy depends on the level of qualifications of the doctor to whom the patient turns for diagnosis. It is extremely important that the specialist is able to detect dangerous symptoms in time and conduct the necessary examination, which can help identify oncological processes.

Classification of tumors

Tumors in medicine are classified according to the tissues in which they grow. Thus, a tumor that develops from the lining of the brain is called meningioma. A tumor that arises in brain tissue is a ganglioma or astrocytoma, and their common name will sound like neuroepithelial neoplasms. Neuroma is a malignant tumor affecting the nerve sheath of the skull.

Gliomas make up about eighty percent of malignant neoplasms; meningiomas are also classified as common tumors; doctors note them in thirty-five percent of brain oncology cases. Now let's find out what are the main reasons for the appearance of this dangerous disease.

Let's look at the signs of brain cancer below.

The main causes of this type of oncology

It must be said that the causes of brain tumors have not yet been fully studied. As practice shows, in ten percent of cases cancer is provoked hereditary diseases genes. Secondary neoplasms arise due to the spread of metastases against the background of cancer of other organs. Today, doctors identify several causes of brain cancer.

• Such genetic pathologies how Gorlin syndrome, along with Bourneville disease, tuberculous sclerosis and disruption of the APC gene, can cause brain cancer.
• Weakened immunity, which is observed after organ transplantation, as well as among AIDS patients, only increases the likelihood of tumor formation not only in the brain, but also in other organs.
• The first signs of brain cancer are much more common in women than in men. Race in in this case also plays a role: white-skinned people are more likely to suffer from this disease compared to representatives of other races.
• The influence of radiation with carcinogenic substances also entails an oncogenic danger and acts as a risk factor for the development of brain cancer. At risk are people who are involved in hazardous industries, for example, in the industrial production of plastics.
• Brain cancer primarily occurs among adults. And with age, the risk of developing malignant neoplasm increases, and this pathology is difficult to treat. Children are also at risk for this type of cancer, but the typical areas where the tumor is located differ: in adults, the cancer affects the lining of the brain, while in younger patients the cerebellum may be affected. In ten percent of brain cancer cases in adult patients, the tumor affects the pituitary gland and the pineal gland.

Secondary tumors are a consequence of other oncological processes that occur in the body: metastases penetrate into the skull through the circulatory system and contribute to the appearance of a malignant neoplasm. Such tumors often occur against the background of breast cancer and other cancers.

The first signs of brain cancer

In brain oncology, symptoms are of two types: focal and cerebral. General cerebral symptoms are typical for all cases of cancer, while focal symptoms directly depend on the location of the tumor. Focal symptoms can be very diverse, its type and severity depend on the area of ​​the brain that is affected by the disease, as well as on the functions for which it is responsible: be it memory, counting, written speech, and so on. Among the focal symptoms of the brain there are following signs:

• Partial or absolute impairment of the mobility of certain parts of the body, along with loss of sensitivity in the limbs, distorted perception of temperature and other external factors. Everyone should know the signs of brain cancer in adults.
• Changes that are associated with the personality: the patient’s character may change, the person may become hot-tempered and irritable, or, conversely, too calm and indifferent to everything that previously worried him. Lethargy with apathy and frivolity in making important decisions that affect life, along with impulsive actions - all this can serve as a sign mental disorder that occurs with this type of oncology.
• Losing control over bladder, difficulty urinating.

General symptoms

Typical for any tumor general signs(brain cancer is no exception), which are associated with increased intracranial pressure, and, in addition, the mechanical effect of the tumor on different centers of the brain. So, the following symptoms are observed:

• Dizziness with loss of balance. There is a feeling that the ground is disappearing from under your feet, it can arise spontaneously and be important symptom requiring diagnostics.
• The headaches are usually dull and bursting, but may have different character. As a rule, they occur in the morning before the first meal, in the evenings or after psycho-emotional stress. Headaches can also get worse with exercise.

Signs of early-stage brain cancer often go undetected for a long time.

• Vomiting also occurs in the morning; this can occur uncontrollably if the position of the head changes abruptly. It can appear without nausea and is in no way related to food intake. In the presence of intense vomiting, there is a risk of dehydration, as a result of which the patient will be prescribed medications that will block the stimulation of the corresponding receptors.

Many people want to know how brain cancer manifests itself. The first signs are not limited to this.

Other symptoms of brain cancer

Now let's look at the symptoms that have been occurring for more than late stages:

• Partial or complete loss of vision. Floaters appearing before the eyes are a symptom that was caused by the tumor pressing on the optic nerve. With absence timely treatment this leads to its death. As a result of this process, it will be impossible to restore vision.
• Compression of the auditory nerve by the tumor causes hearing impairment in the patient.
• Epileptic seizures that arise suddenly. This symptom is characteristic of the second and later stages of brain cancer.
• Presence hormonal disorders. Often observed with an adenomatous neoplasm of glandular tissue, which is capable of producing hormones. Symptoms can be very diverse, as with other diseases that are associated with hormonal imbalance.
• Damage to the brain stem is characterized by impaired swallowing and breathing function, in addition, the sense of smell, taste and vision are distorted. Despite the seriousness of the symptoms, which significantly spoil life and make a person incapacitated and dependent, brain damage can be minor and benign. But even a small tumor in this area can lead to serious consequences. For example, there may be a displacement of the brain structure, which will require surgical intervention.
• A tumor in the temporal zone manifests itself in the form of visual and auditory hallucinations, a neoplasm in the occipital region is characterized by impaired color perception.

We now know what signs of cancer a person may develop.

Diagnosis of oncology

Types of diagnosing brain cancer include the following procedures:

• Personal examination by a specialist. Within initial examination the doctor asks the patient to do a series of tasks that make it possible to determine the impairment of coordination, tactile and motor function. For example, the doctor may ask you to touch your nose with your fingers closed or take a couple of steps after spinning. Neurologists check tendon reflexes.
• Magnetic resonance therapy is prescribed in the presence of deviations from the norm, which makes it possible to identify oncology at an early stage, determine the localization of the tumor and develop an appropriate treatment plan. The first signs of brain cancer manifest differently for everyone.
• Puncture of brain tissue makes it possible to detect the presence of abnormal cells along with the degree of tissue changes, and thanks to this it is also possible to clarify the stage of oncology. However, tissue biopsy cannot always be performed due to the inaccessible location of the tumor, and therefore this analysis often performed when removing a tumor.
• Radiography makes it possible to determine the presence and location of a tumor based on the images shown blood vessels For this purpose, the patient is first injected with a contrast agent. Craniography reveals changes in the structure of the skull along with abnormal calcium deposits, which are provoked by the oncological process.

After diagnosis, the doctor draws up individual plan therapy.

Signs of brain cancer in men and women depend on the stage of the disease.

Main stages of the disease

Due to the almost asymptomatic course of the disease, it is difficult to accurately determine its stage. This is especially difficult to do due to the fact that the disease passes from one stage to another quickly and unexpectedly. This especially applies to cancer formation in the brain stem. The stage of the disease is accurately determined only after a post-mortem autopsy, and therefore the slightest sign pathologies should be treated carefully from the very first days. Unfortunately, on last stage cancer is not amenable to surgical therapy, and, in addition, responds extremely poorly to medicines and other types of treatment. There are four stages in total:

• In the first stage, cancer affects a small number of cells, and therefore surgery mostly goes well. But detecting an oncological formation at this stage is extremely difficult, since the first signs of brain cancer in men and women are characteristic of a number of other diseases. Required special diagnostics.
• The transition of the process to stage 2 is characterized by an increase in the tumor, which involves nearby tissue and begins to compress the brain centers. At this stage, the tumor is still operable, but the chances of absolute cure are significantly reduced.
• The third stage is characterized by rapid growth of the tumor, and malignant cells affect healthy tissue. But, nevertheless, surgical intervention can give good results if the tumor is located in
• At the fourth stage, surgical treatment is no longer performed. Instead, palliative methods are used along with radiation therapy And drug treatment, aimed at reducing the patient's suffering through strong painkillers. The prognosis in this case is disappointing.

Symptoms and signs of brain cancer in adults can be determined by qualified doctor.

How long do patients with brain cancer live?

As part of predicting the development of the disease and assessing the health status of patients with brain cancer, the concept of “five-year survival” is used. Patients who have been diagnosed with this disease are assessed, regardless of the course of therapy used. Some patients after successful treatment live longer than 5 years, while others are forced to undergo regular therapeutic procedures. The average survival rate for people with tumors located in the brain is thirty-five percent. As for malignant tumors, of which the majority are gliomas, in this case the survival rate is only five percent.

We looked at the symptoms and signs of brain cancer.

Brain cancer is a malignant neoplasm located inside cranium and arising through uncontrolled division nerve cells and intracranial structures - lymphatic tissue, blood vessels, nerves and meninges, or formed by metastasis (spread) of a tumor from other parts of the body. Brain tumors occur in approximately 2-19 people per year per 100,000 population, with similar rates in men and women. The mortality rate from brain cancer is quite high due to the erased symptoms in the early stages of the disease and late treatment see a doctor - this is why it is important to know the first signs of the disease, so that if they are detected, treatment can begin as soon as possible.

Malignant neoplasm of the brain

Symptoms and first signs of brain cancer largely depend on the location of the tumor and the stage of its development. According to the degree of malignancy, several stages of development of oncological formation are distinguished:

• Stage 1: the focus is located in upper layers brain tissue without spreading deep inside, the size of the formation is insignificant.
• Stage 2: further malignancy of young cells occurs, the tumor increases in size and spreads deep into the tissues, the process spreads to nearby areas and regional lymph nodes.
• Stage 3: the formation is significant in size, compresses surrounding tissues and has a Negative influence on the functioning of many body systems.
• Stage 4: characterized by an impressive volume of damage to brain tissue, the presence of many metastases in organs and lymphatic system, as well as the growth of subsidiary formations in other parts of the body.

Stage 1 and 2 brain cancer

At the initial stages of tumor growth, brain cancer has virtually no symptoms, since the lesion is small and does not have any effect on the surrounding tissue.

As the formation grows, the first symptoms of the disease appear, which should alert any person:

• Headaches of low intensity, occurring in different parts of the skull. A painful attack can occur after a sharp turn of the head, sneezing and coughing; morning pain is typical immediately after getting up vertical position and are not controlled by taking painkillers.

One of the general cerebral symptoms of a brain tumor is headaches.

• Attacks of dizziness that occur regardless of body position and type of activity.
• Nausea leading to vomiting, independent of food intake. Episodes of “lightheadedness” begin suddenly at any time of the day.
• Severe daytime sleepiness and increasing fatigue.
• Memory problems – the patient periodically forgets simple words, names of objects, it is difficult for him to concentrate.
• Visual disturbances – the first sign of brain cancer may be a sharp deterioration in vision. The patient may notice flashes of light in the eyes, blurriness and shaking of objects.
• Mood swings – often the patient’s mood can change depending on the short time from elated to depressed; characterized by outbursts of unreasonable aggression.

Symptoms of brain cancer in the first stages of the disease are not specific and are similar to the symptoms of many other pathologies, so patients often do not pay attention to them, wasting precious time. In the early stages, cancer responds well to treatment, so the likelihood of a successful outcome is much higher.

Stage 3 brain cancer

Brain cancer at stage 3 is the penultimate stage in the development of oncological formation. At this stage, the tumor grows very quickly, affecting more and more neighboring tissues and putting more pressure on nearby structures, so the symptoms of the disease become more pronounced. All signs of brain cancer are associated precisely with compression of certain areas of the brain and increased intracranial pressure, which entails stretching of the walls of the ventricles of the brain.

At the third stage of brain cancer, other organs are also involved in the process due to the spread of metastases through the lymphatic and circulatory system, therefore, the manifestations of the disease become brighter, the number of symptoms increases - the disease becomes irreversible.

Metastases are secondary growth foci malignant tumor

All symptoms of brain cancer are usually divided into general cerebral and focal neurological, which depend on the localization of tissue compression by the overgrown tumor.

Focal signs of the disease:

• Sensory dysfunction: the patient loses the ability to adequately perceive temperature, pain and tactile stimuli. Often patients cease to correctly determine the position of the limbs in space with their eyes closed.
• Movement disorders: the first signs pathological process Often there are episodes of paresis of the limbs, which are insignificant in strength and duration. As the formation grows, paresis may give way to partial or complete paralysis of the arms or legs.
• Hearing disorders: if the auditory nerve is involved in the process, the patient experiences hearing loss up to complete deafness.
• Visual pathologies in case of defeat optic nerve: the patient has difficulty recognizing printed text, cannot follow moving objects with his eyes, vision deteriorates to the point of complete blindness.

Visual disturbances are among the focal symptoms of a brain tumor

• Speech disorders: the patient has difficulty expressing his own thoughts, speech becomes slurred; Over time, others stop understanding the person.
• Autonomic disorders: fast fatiguability, severe weakness and drowsiness, dizziness.
• Convulsive seizures in the form of partial or full-fledged prolonged seizures.
• Impaired coordination of movements: the patient develops unsteady gait, he loses his balance when walking.
• Personality changes: often the first symptoms are changes in the patient’s behavior - he becomes distracted, irritable for no apparent reason.

General cerebral symptoms of brain cancer include intense headache, nausea and vomiting, and dizziness.

Stage 4 brain cancer

Stage 4 is the last stage in the development of a brain tumor, the prognosis for future life is disappointing - at this stage, cure is impossible, all that remains is to eliminate the symptoms, alleviating the patient’s condition. As a rule, the patient experiences severe headaches that are practically resistant to the action of conventional painkillers, personality changes occur - the person may no longer recognize loved ones. Characterized by irreversible paralysis of the limbs, nausea and vomiting, speech impairment, hearing and vision loss. At this stage, all previously existing symptoms reach their maximum.

It is important for everyone to know the signs of such a serious disease as brain cancer, because early diagnosis disease many times increases the chances of a favorable outcome.

It is not at all easy for even experienced specialists to identify this terrible disease, like cancer, since the symptoms vary widely, and sometimes a large tumor does not manifest itself in the same way as a small tumor that makes a person suffer. It all depends on the place where the infected cells formed.

For many, a diagnosis of brain cancer means the end of their lives. But as with any other disease, there are nuances that can change a terrible sentence to a normal continuation of life. It all depends on the stage of development, as well as on how advanced the process is.

The main thing to remember is that the sooner a person pays attention to his condition and seeks advice from specialists, the higher his chance of recovery. In the early stages, any disease can be treated much more effectively, including cancer. Given the skepticism that surrounds doctors' statements about the possibility of curing cancer, such cases are not at all uncommon.
Of course, if the disease did not drag on to stage IV, when metastases appeared. But according to the patients themselves, there were exceptional cases of recovery even in these situations.

Brain cancer is a very insidious disease. It is dangerous because it can be asymptomatic or with such signs that do not alert a person until a certain time. According to WHO, 6% of all cancer cases are brain oncology, the course of the disease is disguised as other pathologies. For example, migraine is very similar in its symptoms to headaches due to tumor processes. Dizziness may be a sign of spinal osteochondrosis, or changes in the quality of vision may indicate high blood pressure. In short, it is very difficult to correctly diagnose a tumor process in the early stages, even when the patient consults a doctor. If the patient delays going to the doctor, then in this case there is no possibility of diagnosis, and in the meantime the disease develops.

Classification

Brain tumors are all tumors that form in the skull and spinal canal. They are classified into groups: 1. primary focus, 2. cell composition. According to these two factors, all cases are divided into primary, that is, those that develop from tissues, membranes of the brain and nerves of the skull, and secondary - metastatic. With them, metastases penetrate into the brain from a malignant tumor that has affected other organs.

Cancers are classified depending on histological parameters, that is, on the type of tissue from which the disease develops.

There are many of them, but the most common are the following:

1. Neuroepithelial. Such tumors develop from brain cells. More often diagnosed. It can be located in any area of ​​the head.
2. A tumor growing from the membranes of the brain and nerves is called.
3. Metastatic. In this case, neoplasms appear from metastases penetrating from other affected organs. In women from the mammary gland, in men from the lungs.
4. This disease is formed when the cells of the brain appendage begin to divide uncontrollably.

As the tumor grows, it increases in size and begins to “put pressure” on the tissue. In this case, it all depends on which department the pathology has spread to.

Not all infected tissue is cancerous. There are also benign neoplasms. They, being inside the skull, do not metastasize to other organs. Therefore, with timely surgical intervention high probability of achieving a complete cure.

However, the process cannot be started. The pathology, whatever it may be, grows and exerts pressure, gives a person a lot of trouble and over time can lead to irreversible consequences. If no treatment is carried out, benign education may develop into malignant.

In these cases, metastases may form, which, growing, will affect all tissues. There are “point” tumors that do not grow because their growth is restrained by the bones of the skull.

Causes of the disease

The reasons that can provoke the appearance of cancer have not yet been determined. What is known is that the process of degeneration of normal cells into cancer cells can be influenced by genetic predisposition. Numerous studies show that heredity influences this process.

From external reasons are considering:

• radiation;
• carcinogens and chemical substances, poisoning the human body;
• alcohol and smoking;
• age of people. It is noted that older patients much more common among sick people than young people;
• various diseases that reduce immunity provoke the appearance of tumors.

Symptoms

In order to notice the slightest changes in well-being as early as possible, you need to have information about what symptoms of brain cancer generally exist, and what you should pay attention to first.

Symptoms of brain oncology are focal and cerebral. The most common symptom is headaches. They are pulsating or sometimes bursting in nature and appear at night or early in the morning.

Headaches can be especially severe during stress or extreme tension. A painful attack may occur when turning the head, and this may cause unconsciousness or visual impairment. What should be most alarming is that taking painkillers does not alleviate the condition. But all these manifestations can be in many ways similar to various diseases. Therefore, there is no reason to immediately focus on the diagnosis.

As soon as possible, the patient should contact a specialist and undergo comprehensive diagnostics. This will help determine the cause as accurately as possible poor condition body. Signs of head cancer such as nausea or vomiting may indicate increased intracranial pressure. Unless, of course, they are related to drinking or eating. As a rule, vomiting is associated with headache. There are dizzinesses, which may indicate an advanced process of brain damage and the growth of the infected area. Such as epileptic seizures may occur when squeezed different departments heads, their number may increase.

Cancer is one of the most dangerous and intractable human diseases. Brain cancer can appear in different membranes and structures of the brain. People are susceptible to the disease different ages, but the risk increases with age. Tumors that develop directly from brain tissue account for more than 50% of all types of tumor; malignant neoplasms of the brain account for 1.5% of all identified malignant tumors.

A brain tumor

Due to its intracranial location, the tumor is extremely difficult to recognize. Sometimes large neoplasms are asymptomatic, while small ones can produce bright and violent symptoms. The worst thing is that people do not seek help while the symptoms are scanty and do not cause great concern, but run to the doctor only when their health is seriously impaired and there is practically no chance of salvation.

How not to miss the first symptoms of the disease?

The first symptoms that should not be ignored:

• Headache. It is often fickle, dull, and bothers you at night towards the morning. With time headache worries more and more often, does not go away after taking painkillers.
• Vomit. Occurs in the morning on an empty stomach against the background of headaches, vomiting may occur when changing the position of the head.
• Dizziness. As a rule, it appears in the later stages of the disease. Dizziness occurs when the head is tilted at certain angles.
• Mental disorders. The patient's relatives may notice outbreaks of memory, concentration, and thinking problems. A sick person cannot remember basic things, does not recognize close relatives and friends, becomes aggressive, is capable of reckless actions, and may see hallucinations.
• Movement disorders. Depending on the type and location of the tumor, prolapse may occur. physical activity individual parts of the body or all limbs as a whole.
• Cramps. It should be alarming if the first seizure appears after 20 years. Seizures may be the first and only sign of the disease.
• Visual impairment. The patient may complain of blurred vision, the appearance of spots, lightning and flashes. An ophthalmologist at an appointment can diagnose papilledema.
• Chronic weakness and fatigue appear.
• Hormonal imbalances are possible.

Examination methods

The first stage of examination if a brain tumor is suspected is a consultation with a neurologist. The examination consists of examining the motor function of the eyes, diagnosing hearing, tendon reflexes, impaired sensitivity and smell. A neurologist also studies coordination of movements, muscle tone and the ability of the sick person to maintain balance.

If a neurologist suspects a tumor, he will refer the patient to the main examination methods - CT or MRI.

MRI

The magnetic resonance imaging method is the most used and sometimes the most reliable method for diagnosing brain cancer, that is, for a sick person this is a decisive stage. During the study, three-dimensional images of the brain are created in the finest sections. Using MRI, you can see very small tumors, tumors located near the bones of the head, cancer of the brain stem, any cancer at the initial stage of development.

Using MRI, cancer is not only diagnosed, the method is also prescribed before surgery - the images serve as a guide for the neurosurgeon, and MRI is used to assess the dynamics of treatment for brain cancer.

Carrying out magnetic resonance imaging

CT

Computed tomography is a less sensitive method for detecting cancer on initial stages, tumors located near the bones and brain stem. The CT method allows you to determine the location and type of malignant neoplasm of the head, conditions accompanying the tumor - hematomas, cerebral edema.

CT is performed to assess the response of the disease to treatment and diagnose relapses.

PAT

Positron emission tomography. This method is based on the distribution of radioactively labeled sugar in the brain, which provides information about brain activity - tumor cells absorb glucose much faster. Using PET, you can obtain information about new and dead cancer cells. PET is not the only diagnostic method; it is better to complement MRI or CT to study the severity of cancer.

PET CT is a powerful diagnostic tool

Additional examination methods

• SPECT. Single-photon emission CT scan– the method is not highly effective; it is not always possible to distinguish newly formed tumor cells from the scar formed after treatment. More often, this examination is prescribed after CT and MRI to determine the degree of malignancy of brain cancer.
• MEG. Magnetoencephalography is used to measure the magnetic radiation of nerve cells. This technique provides information about the functioning of all parts of the brain.
• MRI angiography. The method is prescribed to assess blood circulation internal structures heads. The method is recommended before surgery to remove cancer, which has a very good blood supply.
• Spinal tap. Target lumbar puncture– receiving cerebrospinal fluid. Next, the laboratory determines the presence of cancer cells and tumor markers in the cerebrospinal fluid. Tumor markers are biological compounds that are produced by tumors and healthy tissues in response to the invasion of cancer cells into tissue. Detection of tumor markers makes it possible to suspect cancer in the early stages of development.

One of the latest discoveries The study of cerebrospinal fluid is the determination of microRNA in it, which gives reliable results in the diagnosis of a common fatal brain cancer - glioblastoma.

• Determination of tumor markers in the blood. This special method blood tests to determine the presence of tumor markers. There are tumor markers that can accurately indicate a certain type malignant formation. By using infrared illumination of the blood and the use of biomarkers, primary tumor cells can be detected. Infrared radiation of the serum can confirm the malignancy of the neoplasm.

Determination of tumor markers in the blood is a screening diagnostic method that allows you to detect cancer in the early stages in people who have no health complaints.

Blood test for tumor markers

• Biopsy. Biopsy is surgical method a study in which cells or tissues are taken from the body for microscopic examination to determine whether they contain signs of malignancy. A biopsy is prescribed after a CT scan or MRI, if after the examination there is a suspicion of a brain tumor. Based on the results of the biopsy, you can obtain accurate information about the type, structure of the tumor and its malignancy. A biopsy is prescribed if other non-surgical methods fail to obtain accurate and complete information.

For gliomas located in the brain stem, a fine-needle biopsy or computer-guided biopsy is performed, since classical research can negatively affect life expectancy. important functions body.

The prognosis for brain cancer depends on two components - timeliness and reliability of diagnosis. People who begin treatment in the initial stages have a five-year survival rate of 70% of cases. When applying for medical care in a neglected state, life expectancy can be no more than 2 months.