Benign Brain Tumors

Medical Author: Charles Davis, MD, PhD
Medical Editor: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Benign brain tumors are usually defined as a group of similar cells that do not follow normal cell division and growth patterns and develop into a mass of cells that microscopically do not have the characteristic appearance of a cancer. Most benign brain tumors are found by CTor MRIbrain scans. These tumors usually grow slowly, do not invade surrounding tissues or spread to other organs, and often have a border or edge that can be seen on CT scans. These tumors rarely develop into metastatic (cancerous or spreading) tumors. Most benign brain tumors can be removed; the benign tumors usually do not reoccur after removal. The exact causes of benign brain tumors are not known, but investigators have suggested that family history, radiation exposure, or exposure to chemicals (for example, vinyl chloride, formaldehyde) may be risk factors.

Benign brain tumors, however, can be life threatening because they can compress brain tissue and other structures inside the skull, so the term "benign" can be misleading. Terminology is further complicated by some investigators who classify low-grade cancerous tumors as either "benign" or "relatively benign." Regardless, compression of brain tissue or its additional structures (for example, nerves, ventricles) by a tumor mass is a major cause of the symptoms seen with benign (and malignant) tumors.

Learn the symptoms of benign brain tumors »

 

*Adult brain tumor facts Medically Edited by: Charles P. Davis, MD, PhD

• The brain is a soft mass of tissue that has three major parts, the cerebrum, cerebellum and the brain stem, all of which are effectively surrounded and protected by the bones of the skull; the brain is the tissue that controls people's voluntary and involuntary actions.
• Cancer is the unregulated growth of abnormal cells in the body (cancer cells are also termed malignant cells).
• Malignant brain tumors contain cancer cells; benign brain tumors do not contain cancer cells but do contain abnormally replicating cells that do not metastasize (spread to other organs) but may still cause problems, often because of their size and are regulated to grow in a specific area.
• Primary brain tumors are composed of abnormal types of brain cells with unregulated growth; the most common type is termed gliomas that arise from brain glial cells, but there are many other types (for example, astrocytomas, ependymomas, medulloblastomas and others).
• Secondary brain tumors are tumors that have spread to the brain tissue, but are composed of cancer cells from other organs (for example, breast, lung).
• The exact cause of brain tumors is unknown; however, people at higher risk for them are children and the elderly, white males, people with family members that have brain tumors, radiation exposure, and exposures to many different chemicals.
• Symptoms of brain tumors, many of which are non-specific and occur in other diseases, may include headaches, nausea, vomiting, speech, hearing or vision changes, memory problems, personality changes and paresthesias (an abnormal sensation of the skin such as numbness, tingling, prickling, burning, or creeping on the skin that has no objective cause).
• Brain tumors are diagnosed preliminarily by many methods including detailed physical exam, CT and/or MRI exams, angiograms, and X-rays; definitive diagnosis is by removing tissue from the tumor (tumor biopsy) and examining the cells microscopically.
• Treatment choices for a brain tumor depends on joint decisions made by the patient and the patient's physician team (team members may include oncologists, surgeons, therapists and others the patient may choose, including other doctors who may give a second opinion); treatment methods are based on the individual's disease and may consist of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, combinations of these methods or no treatment.
• Side effects of treatments are common and numerous but vary from patient to patient depending on the disease, method(s) used and the effectiveness of medications and other methods to reduce them; some of the most common side effects are weakness, nausea, edema, skin changes and hair loss but may include more serious problems such as infections, seizures, disabilities such as speech problems, mental changes and occasionally, death.
• Rehabilitation is frequently included in the treatment plan; specialists like physical, occupational and speech therapists can help the patient improve.
• Follow-up appointments are part of the treatment plan for brain tumors to catch any recurrent disease and to help with rehabilitation treatments.
• Support groups are available to patients with brain tumors and to patients who have and are undergoing treatments; for example, the American Cancer Society, American Brain Tumor Society

DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Aldesleukin is a man-made protein that has the same actions as native human interleukin-2 (IL-2). Interleukins are the messengers by which white blood cells communicate with each other to coordinate inflammation and immunity. Among its actions, IL-2 increases the number and activities of certain types of white blood cells called lymphocytes, monocytes, and macrophages that are involved in inflammation and immunity. For example, lymphocytes fight viral infections, regulate the immune system, and fight cancers. (The exact mechanism by which aldesleukin fights tumors is unknown.) Aldesleukin in given only by injection. Aldesleukin was FDA approved in 1992.

GENERIC AVAILABLE: no

PRESCRIPTION: yes

PREPARATIONS: Vials containing 22 million IU (international units) of aldesleukin as a lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder, with diluent.

STORAGE: The vials should be stored in a refrigerator at 2- 8°C (36-46°F ) before and after reconstitution with diluent. The vials should not be frozen. The solution should be brought to room temperature prior to infusion and used within 48 hours of reconstitution. Since the vials do not contain a preservative, any unused portion must be discarded.

PRESCRIBED FOR: Aldesleukin is used in treating wide-spread (metastatic) cancer of the kidney (renal cell cancer) and skin (melanoma). It is being investigated in several other diseases including acute myelogenous leukemia, non- Hodgkin's lymphoma, HIV infection, Kaposi's sarcoma, and leprosy.

DOSING: Aldesleukin is given by slow intravenous infusion or subcutaneously (under the skin).

DRUG INTERACTIONS: Use of aldesleukin with drugs that share similar toxicity and side effects results in shared side effects that are more severe. For example, drugs that cause damage to the heart, e.g. doxorubicin (Adriamycin) can worsen the toxic effects of aldesleukin on the heart. Similarly, drugs that damage the kidneys, e.g., aminoglycosides (Garamycin, Nebcin, Amikin) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) can worsen the toxic effects of aldesleukin on the kidneys. Finally, drugs that cause liver damage such as isoniazid (INH). increase the toxic effects of aldesleukin on the liver.

Aldesleukin stimulates the immune system. Corticosteroids, e.g. methylprednisolone (Medrol) and prednisone, inhibit the immune system. Therefore, aldesleukin and corticosteroids will have opposing effects if used together. Use of such combinations, in fact, may decrease the anti-tumor effect of aldesleukin. Nevertheless, when aldesleukin is used, clinicians may use dexamethasone (a very powerful corticosteroid) to decrease side effects of aldesleukin such as dyspnea, confusion, fever, nephrotoxicity, or hepatotoxicity, despite the possible decrease in benefit.

PREGNANCY: It is not known whether aldesleukin can cause harm to the fetus. Because of it known side effects, the manufacturer recommends that it only be given to pregnant women using extreme caution.

NURSING MOTHERS: It is not known whether aldesleukin is excreted in breast milk. Because of it known side effects, the manufacturer recommends that it only be given to pregnant women using extreme caution.

SIDE EFFECTS: When given as an infusion into a vein (intravenously), aldesleukin causes side effects in almost every organ. Because of these side effects, aldesleukin only can be given to patients who are physically and mentally able to tolerate them. Most of the side effects are due to "capillary leak" which begins immediately after treatment is started. Capillary leak results in the leakage of proteins out of blood. This causes a loss of fluid from the blood, a decrease in the volume of blood, and a decrease in blood pressure. The decrease in blood pressure can be dramatic and even result in death. More than two-thirds of patients require injectable medications to treat the low blood pressure.

Other problems associated with capillary leak include congestion in the lungs, difficulty breathing (which can occur in one-half of patients), wheezing, respiratory failure (1 out of every 11 patients), and swelling due to fluid accumulation in various tissues in the body (half of all patients). Abnormal heart rhythms occur in 1 out of every 12 patients, and heart attacks in 1 out of every 50. Bleeding from the stomach, intestines, and kidney or liver damage also can occur. In fact, between two-thirds and three-fourths of all patients receiving aldesleukin develop kidney damage. Most of the side events caused by capillary leak begin to resolve a few hours after stopping aldesleukin therapy.

Is It Depression or J

By Mary Anne Dunkin

Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD

just the Blues?

I dont even want to begin to think of the amount of calories in that food choice.

Another possible option is the deep fried cheese-stuffed portabello mushroom between two cheeseburgers as seen in this picture:

and then there's the 3000 calorie (estimate) two pound McDonalds cheeseburger

If you're interested in being really grossed out, fascinated with the food choices that people make or want a laugh, PLEASE, go to This Is Why You're Fat, and if you want to do something about it, get my book Fat Loss Fundamentals and learn the techniques and foods to eat to get the results you're looking for.

Labels: junk-food, Weight Gain

This is Why You're Fat

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