Tumours
Brain Tumours
Thankfully brain tumours are a rare occurrence, with a life time prevalence of less than 0.5% (Steiner 2005) associated with headache presentation. Often headaches are not the primary complaint that leads a patient to present with a brain tumour to a neurologist. Other features for example: seizures, vomiting, and vision changes are more common presentations. Symptoms present as a consequence of raised intracranial pressure (ICP) and location dependent neurological deficits.
Intracranial Pressure (ICP)
Due to the contained nature of the skull on the brain, any increase in brain size results in an increased pressure. Increased intracranial pressure can be caused through swelling, or a space occupying lesion (SOL). A space occupying lesion can be diagnosed as an abscess or a tumour.
Symptoms of Brain Tumours
Brain Tumour symptoms vary on the basis of location and size. A small tumour can be more disruptive based merely on location. The following are a general list of symptoms which can occur in isolation as well as combined:
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Personality or Mood Changes
- Seizures
- Cognitive Decline
- Vision and Hearing Changes
- Physical Changes in strength and movement
- Speech Change
Should a specialist suspect a brain tumour an MRI scan will be conducted. If you are concerned or worried always contact a GP or specialist for advice, diagnosis, and treatment.
