Tumor of the cerebellum of the brain
The content of the article
Symptoms of a cerebellar tumor can be divided into three groups. This tumor is not necessarily malignant, as it can also be benign. The main thing is to detect the disease in time and begin its prompt treatment. Otherwise, delaying and ignoring the problem can cause dire consequences. Even if the tumor is benign, it is still a serious threat to the patient’s life, as it can cause infringement of brain structures, which will lead to impaired blood circulation and breathing.
Classification
A tumor of the cerebellum of the brain occupies 30% of the total share of neoplasms. Like other tumors of the nervous system, a cerebellar tumor can be primary or secondary. In the first case, the source of the tumors is the membrane of the brain or nerve cells, and in the second, tumor metastases from a different location.
The latter occupy about 70% of the total number of neoplasms in the posterior cranial fossa. In young children they manifest themselves in the form of medulloblastomas, and in middle-aged and mature people - in the form of astrocytomas and angioreticularis. In elderly patients, metastases of cancer and glioblastoma are most often diagnosed. A cerebellar tumor can develop very slowly, moreover, being localized separately from the brain tissue. Otherwise, they can affect surrounding tissues, which is less favorable for the patient.
Symptoms
As noted above, tumors of the cerebellum of the brain can be divided into three main groups:
- General cerebral;
- Remote;
- Focal.
General cerebral symptoms include the following:
- Headache , which is most often felt in the neck and back of the head. May occur periodically with varying degrees of intensification. In case of increased intracranial pressure, headache may be accompanied by nausea and gag reflexes;
- Nausea and vomiting that is not associated with food intake. This is caused by irritation of centers in the brain stem;
- Dizziness;
- Violation of visual processes.
As for long-term symptoms, they are caused by damage to the cranial nerves. This may include the following:
- Pain in one area of the face, disruption of chewing processes;
- Strabismus;
- The appearance of tinnitus and decreased sensitivity of the auditory canal;
- Speech impairment;
- Changes in taste buds.
In addition, long-term symptoms can also include increased weakness in one half of the body, as well as the appearance of epileptic seizures.
Focal symptoms are directly related to tumor damage to the cerebellar tissue. The cerebellum consists of several parts and depending on which part is affected by the tumor, different symptoms will occur. This may include the following:
- Impaired walking when the worm is affected (as the tumor enlarges, instability manifests itself even in a sitting position);
- Trembling in the limbs. Most often they occur on the side on which the tumor is localized;
- Poor circulation of cerebrospinal fluid. All this is accompanied by headache, increased nausea and vomiting. In parallel, disturbances in the functioning of the cardiovascular system and pulmonary function may be observed.
Diagnostics
To identify this brain tumor, it is necessary to conduct thorough neurological examinations. An important role here is played by an examination from an ophthalmological point of view, as well as the condition of the fundus. The use of modern radiation methods allows specialists to obtain the most accurate results. The right solution is to perform an MRI . Only in this case will a specialist be able to detect a tumor in the cerebellum of the brain and correctly separate this disease from other signs that are also inherent in damage to the cerebellum.
Treatment
The best treatment option for this disease is surgery. The effectiveness of the operation will directly depend on whether the tumor was completely removed. In some cases, it is not possible to completely remove the tumor.
If the tumor has been classified as malignant, then after surgery patients are prescribed radiation therapy, which aims to destroy all other tumor cells. It is also possible to use chemotherapy. The volume of treatment and its type directly depend on the histological type of tumor in the patient’s brain. It is worth noting that if the tumor was not completely removed, then after a while it will begin to grow again, and as a result, new clinical symptoms will appear.
Medications are also used to treat cerebellar tumors. These include diuretics, painkillers, antiemetics and other drugs. Of course, they cannot in any way affect the elimination of the tumor, but they help maintain the optimal condition of the patient.
Forecast
The results of treatment directly depend on the type of disease. In case of a benign tumor of the cerebellum of the brain, the prognosis is favorable. If there is compression of the structures and their death, which are responsible for the functioning of the blood circulation and lungs, then the risk of death increases significantly.
If the tumor is not completely removed, the patient will have to undergo surgery again after a few years. When malignant neoplasms are diagnosed, patient survival after therapy ranges from 1 to 5 years.
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