Only about one-third of brain tumors are cancerous or malignant. Some types of brain tumors aren't cancerous. These are called benign brain tumors. But all brain tumors could impact your brain function and your overall health if they press on surrounding nerves, blood vessels, and tissue.
Treatment options depend on the type of tumor you have, as well as its size and location in your brain. Often, the most effective treatment is surgery and radiation therapy.
Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma
This rare benign tumor affects adolescent boys and is commonly found in the back of the nasal cavity. The tumor spreads to surrounding areas, leading to symptoms such as congestion and nosebleeds.
Choroid Plexus Tumor
This rare tumor is found in the part of the brain that produces cerebrospinal fluid. In children under two, they can cause hydrocephalus, leading to increased pressure on the brain and skull enlargement. Most of these tumors are benign, but a rare malignant type, the choroid plexus carcinoma, can occur.
Dysembryoplastic Neuroepithelial Tumor
This rare type of brain tumor typically occurs in children and teenagers and is commonly located in the frontal or temporal lobe. They are made of neurons and oligodendroglial-like cells, a type of supporting cell. These tumors can cause seizures, usually beginning before age 20.
Neurofibroma
This benign tumor can develop on nerves throughout the body and sometimes appears in the brain, cranial nerves, or spinal cord. Usually, they are solitary tumors, but multiple neurofibromas indicate a genetic disorder called neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1).
Hemangioblastomas
These are benign tumors of the blood vessels that grow slowly. They are most commonly found in the posterior fossa of the brain, which is located near the base of the skull. Symptoms of hemangioblastomas depend on their location.
If they are in the cerebellum, patients may experience:
- headaches
- nausea
- vomiting
- difficulty with coordination and balance
These tumors can be removed through surgery. In rare cases, they may appear in multiple sites and be symptomatic of a hereditary disease called Von Hippel-Lindau.
Retinal hemangioblastomas may also occur in some patients with cerebellar hemangioblastomas. Treatment for hemangioblastomas involves surgery, which may be curative for certain cases. Preoperative embolization may be helpful to reduce the blood supply to the tumor. Radiation treatment may be useful for patients who are not surgical candidates or for inoperable brainstem HGBs.
Chondroma
This is a type of benign tumor that arises from cartilage tissue. These growths can occur in any part of the body where cartilage is present, but they most commonly develop in the bones of the hands and feet. Chondromas are slow-growing tumors that may not cause any symptoms, but they can sometimes cause pain or swelling in the affected area. In rare cases, they may also cause fractures or deformities if they grow large enough. Treatment for chondromas typically involves surgical removal, which can be curative if the entire tumor is removed.
Giant Cell Tumor
Also known as osteoclastoma, this is a type of bone tumor that usually develops during adolescence. These tumors are most commonly found in the knees and wrists but can also arise in the skull or vertebral column. Giant cell tumors get their name because the cells that form them come from osteoclasts, which are cells that break down bone. While they are generally benign, they can be locally aggressive and cause significant pain and discomfort if left untreated.
Osteoma
The most common benign bone tumors develop on the skull base and facial bones. These slow-growing tumors usually cause no symptoms. Lesions without symptoms can be monitored without intervention. Surgery might be an option for cosmetic purposes or when the lesion causes discomfort by putting pressure on nearby tissues.
Arachnoid Cyst
The cyst is a type of brain abnormality that a person can be born with. These cysts form from the middle layer of the membrane that surrounds the brain (meninges) and fill with a fluid that is usually the same as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). They are usually asymptomatic and discovered incidentally, except for those located in the suprasellar region. While many authors recommend not treating Arachnoid Cysts that are not causing symptoms, pediatric patients may need to be monitored until they become adults.
Colloid Cyst
A colloid cyst is a type of slow-growing benign tumor that makes up less than 1% of intracranial tumors. These cysts are typically found in the third ventricle of the brain, which can lead to obstructive hydrocephalus, or an abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain's ventricles. When treatment is needed, surgery is the main option. An endoscopic approach may be used to remove the cyst.
Dermoid or Epidermoid Cyst
These slow-growing benign tumors usually arise from skin cells that get trapped within or displaced into the central nervous system. They tend to occur in specific areas such as the cerebellopontine angle, 4th ventricle, suprasellar region, or spinal cord. Unlike true neoplasms, epidermoid cysts grow at a linear rate. They appear on imaging as CSF-like masses and can sometimes cause aseptic meningitis, a type of meningitis not caused by infection. Treatment typically involves surgical removal of the cyst.
Encephalocele
This is a rare condition where a part of the brain protrudes through a defect in the skull bone. The defect, known as cranium bifidum, occurs in the midline of the skull and is most commonly found in the occipital region. If the herniation contains meninges and cerebrospinal fluid, it is called a meningocele, but if it contains brain tissue, it is called an encephalocele. Encephalocele is usually diagnosed in newborns and can present as a polypoid mass in the nasal area. The treatment for encephalocele is usually surgery, and the goal is to prevent complications such as infection and neurological deficits.
Fibrous Dysplasia
This is a condition where bone is replaced by fibrous tissue, but it is not cancerous. Malignant transformation to osteosarcoma or other types of cancer is rare, occurring in less than 1% of cases. It commonly affects the ribs, proximal femur, and craniofacial bones. The condition may be monostotic (affecting only one bone), polyostotic (affecting multiple bones), or part of a syndrome called McCune-Albright syndrome, which includes café au lait spots, endocrine disorders, and polyostotic fibrous dysplasia. The most common symptom is cosmetic, but hearing loss and rarely visual loss may also occur. The condition usually progresses slowly, and surgery is typically not recommended unless it is necessary to treat symptoms.
Rathke's cleft cysts (RCC)
These are slow-growing, non-cancerous growths. They are usually located within or just above the sella turcica, which is a bony structure that holds the pituitary gland. RCCs are often discovered incidentally on imaging obtained for unrelated reasons and are usually asymptomatic. However, in some cases, RCCs can cause headaches or other symptoms related to inflammation. Recurrence after treatment is common, but most incidental lesions are followed with serial imaging. Symptomatic RCCs are usually drained through a surgical procedure, and complete cyst wall removal may decrease the recurrence rate. Despite the high recurrence rate, surgical decompression of RCCs usually improves symptoms, including visual disturbances and headaches.
Why Choose Us?
Sylvester is an NCI-designated cancer center. The National Cancer Institute has recognized Sylvester for its outstanding work conducting research in its laboratories, treating patients in its clinics and hospitals, and reaching out to medically underserved communities with innovative prevention strategies.
International leaders in brain tumor care. We play a vital role in the community, thanks to our groundbreaking research and patient care for people in Florida, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. We’re turning Miami into the healthcare capital of the Americas. We’re creating one of the premier brain tumor centers in the country.
Offering the latest in scientific breakthrough treatment. You have access to all treatment options, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, complementary and integrative medicine, and comprehensive management — including new approaches through clinical trials. The procedures we perform on both pediatric and adult patients use the least invasive neurosurgical techniques, which reduces recovery time and makes a significant difference in your quality of life.
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