Benign or malignant
Brain tumors are classified into two categories, benign
or malignant. Malignant tumors are usually cancerous, but their
seriousness depends upon the tumor's growth rate, whether or not the tumor cells
have spread to other parts of the central nervous system, the feasibility of
surgical removal, and the tumor's known response to non-surgical treatment, such
as radiation and chemotherapy. Certain malignant tumors respond to radiation or chemotherapy, which may completely destroy tumor cells.
Benign tumors are slow growing and rarely spread. Although
noncancerous, they are not always easy to treat. Sometimes they cannot be
removed surgically, do not respond to radiation or chemotherapy and continue to
grow in the child's brain. Thus, even benign tumors sometimes can behave as if
they were malignant. Thanks to advances in medical and surgical technology and
increased biological knowledge, tumors previously considered malignant may now
be considered more benign.
Management of brain tumors differs according to the patient's age, the tumor
location and the kinds of cells that make up the tumor.
Despite extensive research, the cause of brain tumors remains unclear.
Sometimes brain tumors are reported within family groups, but these occurrences
are extremely rare.