Brain tumor - symptoms in the early stages. First manifestations and diagnosis

Recently, there has been a trend of a sharp increase in oncology in children. Sadly, but such a terrible diagnosis is heard not only by adults, but also by children. Today we will talk about brain cancer and its features in young patients. You will learn the possible causes of development and symptoms of this disease, as well as what parents should do if a brain tumor is found in a child. Brain cancer in children ranks second after leukemia.

Stage 1 - the beginning of the formation of the tumor, when it affects only external tissues. This can occur for a long time and is asymptomatic. If you start treatment at stage 1, then the prognosis is very favorable.
at stage 2, the neoplasm increases in size, the growth of damaged cells becomes faster, they move to neighboring tissues. The cardiovascular system suffers. Treatment at stage 2 gives positive results in 75% of cases.
At stage 3, the disease continues to progress, metastases appear in the regional lymph nodes. Intracranial pressure increases, as a result of which cerebral symptoms intensify. The general condition of a person worsens, fatigue, anemia, apathy appear, a person loses weight sharply. Often, signs of a brain tumor in children appear only at this stage, when treatment is often no longer effective. Only a quarter of patients can be cured.
Stage 4 - cancer has spread massively in the brain. Various disorders appear, depending on which part of the GM is damaged - these can be mental disorders, loss of vision, hearing, hallucinations, paralysis, epilepsy. Tumors at this stage are mostly inoperable, treatment is to eliminate symptoms.

Diagnostics

The diagnostic method is chosen by the doctor depending on the previous examination and the age of the small patient. Based on the data obtained, the child is hospitalized in the oncological dispensary for further tests and treatment. If the tumor is resectable, it is necessary to take biomaterial for examination in the laboratory in order to determine its histological type. This is done using a thin needle, which is inserted into the brain under the supervision of an ultrasound machine. This analysis is important for establishing treatment tactics. Some types of neoplasms (for example, glioma of the optic tract) do not require a biopsy; an experienced doctor will be able to determine them by CT or MRI results.

Treatment of a brain tumor in children

If possible, surgical treatment of a brain tumor (malignant and benign) is performed. To do this, the skull is opened and the cancer is partially or completely removed, after which the area of the skull and skin is put in place using titanium plates and sutures. It should be noted that trepanation is done only with primary brain cancer.

Partial removal is indicated when the tumor is located in the brain itself, when any intervention can lead to deterioration. Such a procedure is carried out in order to reduce intracranial pressure and cerebrospinal fluid hypertension, or for the subsequent destruction of residual cancer cells with the help of chemistry. In any case, doctors try to remove the maximum amount of damaged tissue.

The decision to operate on a neoplasm depends on:

its size;
localization;
type;
the patient's condition.

Brain surgery is very complex and traumatic. Possible complications include brain damage, swelling, bleeding, infection, and even death. At the same time, it is the most efficient. Therefore, it is important to choose a good specialist neurosurgeon.

Modern technologies help reduce the risk of negative consequences and the rehabilitation period. For example, during the operation, CT and MRI are used, which clearly show the fragments that need to be removed. This method is called stereotaxic trepanation. Laser removal, endoscopic and ultrasound are also now used. A positive factor for children is a quick recovery after treatment.

With hydrocephalus (accumulation of fluid), during surgery, the child can install a drain that will bring the CSF out. Such a system is removed after 1-2 weeks. The best method is shunting, when a similar drainage is created under the skin. Fluid is drained through a tube to other parts of the body and absorbed there. The operation has its consequences, so be sure to consult a doctor.

After removal of a brain tumor, the possibility of cancer cells moving to other areas, as well as relapses of the disease years later, is not ruled out. Children with brain cancer should have regular check-ups to keep the situation under control. At the end of the operation, an MRI or CT scan is done to evaluate its results.

Informative video

Treatment after surgery

Based on the tomography data, the patient may be prescribed a course of radiation and chemotherapy. An integrated approach is more effective, but for very young children they try not to use such methods, since there is a possibility of serious side effects (growth and developmental delays). Therefore, when prescribing a therapy regimen, the attending physician should discuss all the nuances with the parents and make an informed decision.

Radiation therapy is carried out 2-3 weeks after the operation. Its essence lies in the direction to a certain point where the residual cancer cells are located, which leads to their destruction. If multiple metastases are diagnosed, then the entire head is irradiated. I mainly prescribe radiation treatment for cancerous brain tumors, but sometimes it is also needed after the removal of benign ones.

The course is from 10 to 30 procedures, doses of 0.8-3 Gy. To avoid negative consequences, the radiation oncologist must accurately select the dose and purpose of irradiation. In practice, highly focused methods or dividing the daily dose into several small ones are used. During the procedure, the child must lie still. For this, sedatives or general anesthesia are sometimes used.

Irradiation and radiation therapy affect not only damaged, but also healthy cells of the body. Therefore, the treatment is quite difficult.

Side effects:

GM edema;
baldness;
nausea, vomiting;
digestive problems;
weakness, fatigue.

Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer cells with chemicals that destroy them. There are a lot of types of drugs, they are taken orally or intravenously according to a certain scheme. Chemotherapy is given before surgery to shrink the tumor, or after, sometimes along with radiation therapy. It also negatively affects the entire body, like radiation. To alleviate side effects, steroids are prescribed to help relieve swelling, inflammation, and headaches, as well as antiemetics for nausea and vomiting, and anticonvulsants.

When surgery is contraindicated, radiation and chemotherapy are used as the main treatment.

Children after removal of a brain tumor should be in the hospital for about 2 weeks. Rehabilitation begins there: the child is returned to normal life, taught all the necessary skills.

Informative video

Brain tumor in a child: prognosis

In general, brain tumors in children do not have a very good prognosis. As mentioned earlier, any neoplasms in this organ negatively affect the functioning of various body systems. The absence of symptoms in the initial stages is another negative factor, due to which people find out their diagnosis late, which means that the treatment will not be as effective. That is why it is important for parents to know how to recognize a brain tumor in a child.

In youth, the body recovers faster, so survival rates are higher than in adults. At stages 3 and 4, the five-year survival rate is 20-30%, more often with such a diagnosis they live less than a year. Forecasts also depend on the degree of malignancy of the neoplasm: if a benign meningioma was detected and removed from a child, then the probability of living for 5 years or more is about 80%.

Since the causes of brain tumors in children are not known, there are no special methods of prevention. You just need to adhere to a healthy lifestyle (especially for pregnant women), avoid exposure and radiation, and undergo regular examinations.

Medicine does not stand still: new methods of operations and drugs for the treatment of cancer are constantly being developed. Therefore, the 5-year delay provides an opportunity to learn about new ways and try them. If a child has a brain tumor, don't despair! Choose an experienced specialist, tune in to the best outcome, then it will be much easier for you and your child.

Informative video: surgery to remove a brain tumor in children

With a disease such as, symptoms in children appear depending on the location and stage of the pathological process. Neoplasms are most often found along the midline of the organ, they affect the cerebellum, trunk, or 3-4 ventricles.

Tumors of the supratentorial type are more often diagnosed in young children, tumors of the occipital region are diagnosed in older patients. Medulloblastoma is the most common type of cancer; about 80% of tumors are neuroectodermal in nature. Primary neoplasms of the brain in children are large single accumulations of atypical cells.

Common Symptoms of Brain Cancer

The clinical picture of the disease differs from that in adults. This is due to the peculiarities of the development of brain cancer in children. The following symptoms are common to all oncological diseases of this localization: loss of appetite with sudden weight loss, fever, pallor of the skin.

Observing the behavior of the child, you can see that he begins to quickly get tired, refuse to play and play sports, be capricious for no reason. Signs of cancer in children depend on the location and size of the tumor, the age of the patient.

Typical symptoms are headaches that are persistent or paroxysmal in nature. They cannot be stopped with standard painkillers. Vomiting occurs without nausea preceding it at the peak of the headache. There is a decrease in concentration, impaired speech and gait, memory impairment.

A growing tumor puts pressure on large vessels and nerve endings, so brain cancer in children leads to a decrease in visual acuity and hearing, nosebleeds, developmental delays. An oncological disease can be suspected with an increase in lymph nodes, the occurrence of seizures and epileptic seizures. Brain cancer in children over 3 years of age has a clinical picture that is somewhat different from the symptoms of the same disease in children of the first year of life.

In infants, there is a divergence of the cranial sutures, leading to an increase in the volume of the head. Against the background of these conditions, intracranial pressure remains within the normal range for a long time. The child has a pronounced vascular network on the head, which, together with an increase in the volume of the cranium and headaches, is a typical sign of brain cancer. In patients older than 5 years, the first symptoms appear much earlier.

Pain in older children may be temporary. It is almost impossible to diagnose this symptom in a child of the first year of life, he cannot describe his feelings. Changes in the behavior of the baby help parents suspect something is wrong: he becomes restless, sleeps poorly at night, often holds his head or rubs his eyes. Vomiting usually occurs upon waking and may be accompanied by abdominal pain. In the early stages of the disease, attacks occur no more than 1 time per week; in the later stages, vomiting can become persistent. Its occurrence in a small child contributes to a sharp change in body position.

A characteristic manifestation of a brain tumor in children is the occurrence of congestion in the fundus. Pathological changes of varying severity are diagnosed - from slight swelling to retinal hemorrhages. There is a deterioration in vision, up to complete blindness. The cancerous process in the central nervous system is often accompanied by increased convulsive readiness.

Seizures are similar to epileptic seizures, but they are rarely repetitive. At the time of the onset of convulsions, the child throws back his head, rolls his eyes and begins to sway in different directions. The arms are bent at the elbows, the legs are sharply extended. Heartbeat and breathing slow down.

Specific symptoms of the disease

The appearance of other signs of cancer is due to the localization of the pathological process. With damage to the cerebellum, coordination of movements is disturbed, nystagmus and tremor of the extremities appear. With the spread of cancer cells in the spinal cord, unsteady gait is observed, which is not accompanied by trembling of the hands and head. Some forms of the disease contribute to the cessation of the production of hormones necessary for the body, the child stops growing and developing.

Involvement of the posterior fossa may not have specific symptoms, the clinical picture includes increased pressure, convulsions, headaches, nausea and vomiting, visual and hearing impairment, problems with maintaining balance when walking and being in a standing position. The child is constantly changing mood and character, he is not amenable to learning and cannot concentrate on any activity.

The presence of these signs does not always indicate brain cancer in a child, but if at least one of them appears, you should immediately consult a doctor. Only on the basis of the results of the examination can a correct diagnosis be made and treatment prescribed.

Signs of damage to the brain stem

Most of the neoplasms of this localization are represented by gliomas of varying degrees of malignancy. A brainstem tumor often develops at an early age, it affects both nuclear cells and conductive fibers. The clinical picture includes motor and sensory syndromes. A decrease in sensitivity is observed on the side opposite to the localization of the tumor. Unlike neoplasms of the cerebellum, stem cancer rarely interferes with the outflow of fluid, so increased intracranial pressure and hydrocephalus are observed only in the later stages.

Benign neoplasms are characterized by extremely slow development, therefore, 10 years can pass from the onset of the pathological process to the appearance of the first symptoms. With cancer, most patients die within 1 year after the detection of the disease. Trunk tumors develop both in childhood and adolescence. Gliomas account for about 10% of brain cancers.

The brainstem is the most important part of the CNS, performing many different functions. Here are the nerve endings responsible for the functions of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. The brain stem regulates the movements of the eyeballs and facial muscles, the processes of swallowing and the transmission of auditory vibrations. Through this section lie nerve fibers that innervate the muscles of the limbs, chest and lower back.

This is the reason for the appearance of a multifaceted clinical picture in brain stem cancer. Early symptoms depend on the localization of the pathological process. The child develops nystagmus, strabismus, dizziness and hearing loss. In the future, muscle weakness develops, affecting both individual areas and the entire body. In the later stages, the severity of symptoms increases, headaches and vomiting join, indicating the development of hydrocephalic syndrome.

It will not be possible to identify the disease on its own; if at least one of its symptoms appears, it is necessary to show the child to a neurologist. Diagnostic signs of brain cancer are detected during a complete examination of the patient. The most informative methods are CT and MRI, which allow to determine the size, location and stage of tumor development. Often there are changes in the composition of the bone marrow fluid. Most often, this is a protein-cell dissociation that has a persistent character. In young children, the clinical picture of cancer may be supplemented by signs of meningitis.

A brain tumor in children occurs 7 times less frequently than in adults.

Despite this, this type of formation is very common among children, second only to leukemia. Moreover, the risk of abnormal formation in boys is slightly higher than in girls.

A brain tumor in children is characterized by tissue damage due to the formation and growth of pathological cells, which leads to a violation of the vital functions of the body. There are persistent changes in the work of the systems of organs that provide blood circulation, feelings, respiration, bone skeleton and muscles.

Often this disease begins to develop inside the brain, although it can also occur in the spinal cord. In childhood, there is a fairly high probability of developing a primary benign formation.

The main feature of the course of the disease in children is the rather rapid growth and rapid penetration of pathological cells into other tissues (typical for malignant neoplasms).

Causes

The exact factors that lead to the appearance of abnormal areas (gliomas) are not known.

There are only suggestions of possible causes that carry the risk of developing the disease:

Pathologies during intrauterine development of the embryo.
Predisposition to genetic diseases (if there were cases of illness in the family, this increases the likelihood of detecting it in the baby).
Damage to some genes (Turco syndrome, Gorlin syndrome, von Recklinghausen disease, tuberous sclerosis).
Head injury.
Carcinogenic and mutagenic substances, pesticides.
Bad ecology.
Hormonal imbalance.
Weakened immune system.
Exposure to radiation.
Some types of radiation (electromagnetic waves, infrared and microwave radiation).

There is no evidence of a direct influence of the above factors.

But it is known that they can act as catalysts for the development of the disease.

Common types of illness

The disease is conditionally divided into the following groups:

Benign formations are characterized by slow growth and development. There is no penetration of pathological formations into other healthy tissues. The main danger is that the glioma presses on nearby areas, thereby causing certain symptoms.
Malignant tumors are characterized by rapid growth and spread to other areas.
Primary - originated in the same organ.
Metastatic - originated in other organs and spread to the brain.

Under the age of 5 years, neoplasms of the cranial posterior fossa (medulloblastoma), trunk glioma, and astrocytoma are common in children. Less common are craniopharyngiomas and meningiomas.

Astrocytomas are formed from astrocyte cells (small star-shaped cells). Babies most often encounter pilocytic astrocytoma.

This type of neoplasm may appear:

in the cerebellum (dorsal region);
in the trunk;
in the optic nerve (in children).

A brain stem tumor is more common in children. Occurs in areas connected to the spine. There is a destruction of nuclear formations and conductive paths in the trunk area. It progresses rapidly, causing disturbances in the work of the nerve center. Glioma most often penetrates into the bridge of the trunk.

Medulloblastomas are neoplasms of the posterior cranial fossa. It spreads along the liquor routes. The disease is characterized by the absence of certain boundaries and the penetration of pathological cells through tissue barriers.

Neoplasms of the optic nerve occur in the tissues that connect the brain center with the eye (glial tissues). Glioma arises on the site of the optic nerve and grows along its course. Forms a knot that is isolated from surrounding tissues. Rarely grows into the cranial cavity. This type is characterized by an almost asymptomatic onset of the disease and its gradual development.

Craniopharyngioma is a benign, slow-growing cystic-epithelial neoplasm. This species is localized in the hypothalamic-pituitary region. It is formed from the remains of the germinal epithelium in Rathke's sac. Larger craniopharyngiomas can interfere with CSF circulation and, in some cases, cause hydrocephalus.

Germ cell tumors (germinogenic) consist of cells that were formed during the period of intrauterine development of the embryo. The future reproductive system develops from them. Provided that immature germ cells have not migrated to their proper place (in girls in the small pelvis, in boys in the scrotum), they can form gliomas in the head.

Main symptoms

Symptoms of a tumor in children depend on the age of the child and the location of the formation.

A typical tumor complex of symptoms includes:

headaches - are predominantly long-term paroxysmal in nature, do not respond to drug treatment;
vomiting - appears without prior nausea with increased headache;
deterioration in coordination of movements, change in gait;
tingling and numbness in the limbs;
developmental delay;
symptomatic epilepsy (loss of consciousness, convulsive muscle contractions);
dizziness;
enlarged lymph nodes;
mental disorders (aggressiveness, irritability);
regression in toilet habits (urinary or fecal incontinence);
loss of strength, drowsiness, loss of interest in favorite games and activities;
changes in speech - slow or, conversely, very fast speech, difficulties in pronouncing sounds, words, confused speech;
photophobia (acute sensitivity of the eyes to light, lacrimation);
increased bleeding;
visual impairment, hearing impairment.

Symptoms of a brain tumor in young children and infants have characteristic first signs.

These include:

the head increases in volume (excess of normal age indicators), changes occur in the shape of the skull;
there is a divergence of the sutures of the skull;
noticeable swelling and tension of the fontanel;
the collateral venous network increases;
there are changes in the movement of the eyeballs, strabismus;
convulsions are characteristic, movements of the arms and legs that were previously unusual for the child;
constant monotonous crying, which may indicate the presence of pain in the head.

Symptoms of the disease depending on its location

Pathological formations that are located in different parts of the body cause their characteristic symptoms, which facilitates the identification of their localization.

The formations formed in the frontal lobe are manifested by speech disorders (very fuzzy and rapid pronunciation of words), abnormal gait (unsteadiness, tendency to fall backwards and to the sides).
Signs of a tumor of the cerebellum: deterioration in coordination of movements (static and dynamic ataxia), decreased muscle tone, deviations to the side while walking.
In the presence of a neoplasm in the temporal lobe, there is a misunderstanding of the speech addressed to the patient, the absence of visual function in a limited area, convulsions.
Characteristic signs for abnormal formation in the occipital lobe are visual damage, the appearance of flashes and sparks in the eyes.
When localized on the basis of the organ, strabismus, a decrease in the sensitivity of the face, painful sensations on the skin of the face, changes in voluntary eye movements are manifested.
When localized in the area of the Turkish saddle (formation in the body of the sphenoid bone of the skull in the form of a depression), a deterioration in smell, active regulation of somatotropic hormone, resulting in the growth of hands and feet, hyperhidrosis, palpitations, damage to the regulation of water-salt metabolism are characteristic.

With a stem tumor, the main symptoms are:

dizziness;
hearing loss;
strabismus, diplopia (double vision), changes in eye movement;
twitching of the eyeballs;
muscle hypotension;
weakness of facial muscles (facial asymmetry);
change in respiratory rhythm;
problems in the work of the organs of the cardiovascular system.

With education, which is localized in the region of the ventricle, there is nausea, severe vomiting, dizziness (a feeling of the earth leaving under the feet, rotation of objects, falling into an abyss), nystagmus (involuntary pendulum movements of the eyes).

Diagnosis of the disease

Diagnosis requires a set of procedures and measures.

A neurological examination is performed to identify disorders of the central nervous system. The basic reactions of the baby (auditory, visual, tactile) are checked. Such an examination helps to determine the location of the neoplasm.

Thanks to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), an image of the abnormal area can be obtained. Under the influence of radio waves and magnetic fields, the organ is scanned, which allows you to see even the smallest pathological changes. To determine the presence of abnormalities in the medulla, contrast is used (the introduction of a special substance that creates a contrast image).

Computed tomography (CT) is a method of radiation diagnostics in which the projections of x-rays are analyzed by a computer. The image obtained in this way is more detailed than with radiography.

A biopsy involves taking a small piece of pathological tissue to establish whether the neoplasm is benign or malignant.

This procedure is most often done under MRI or CT guidance to ensure accurate needle penetration.

Spinal puncture is used to obtain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and its further laboratory analysis.

This method allows you to measure the pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid in the canal, to introduce chemicals into the spinal canal.

To diagnose the disease in young children, they also use a fundus check (to detect stagnation of the nipples of the optic nerve) and ultrasound, while the fontanelles are open.

Therapy of the disease

Treatment is carried out using three main methods.

Surgical intervention.
Radiation therapy.
Chemotherapy.

In combination with these methods, additional methods can be used.

Such as:

immune therapy;
hormone therapy;
radiosurgery.

The main method of treatment is surgery, while the rest are used as auxiliary. The operation will be successful if the child's brain tumor is benign.

Pathological formation can be removed completely or partially (due to its inconvenient location).

At the same time, the procedure carries a lot of side effects for small patients, such as the appearance of postoperative edema or cysts.

Healthy areas are damaged, which entails the loss of some organ functions. The operation cannot be performed if there is a lesion of the trunk, where the vital centers are located.

Radiation therapy is used if surgery is contraindicated (not prescribed for children under 3 years of age). A certain amount of tissue is selected to be irradiated. Due to ionizing radiation, a large number of mutations develop in pathological areas, provoking their death. The consequences of such therapy can be:

damage to healthy tissues;
nausea, vomiting;
hair loss;
skin reactions (redness, swelling).

Chemotherapy is treatment with the help of chemicals. It can be prescribed both before and after surgery, and sometimes is the only acceptable treatment.

The use of chemotherapy before surgery can reduce the size of the abnormal formation in order to maximize the integrity of the membranes.

After surgery, such therapy is used to stop or inhibit metastases and relapses. Chemicals are administered through drips or intravenously. To achieve the maximum effect, chemotherapy is carried out in a course.

Important to remember

Ignoring the signs of illness can cost your life! Parents need to recognize the symptoms in time and seek medical help as soon as possible. And in no case should you despair if the doctors have given the baby a dangerous diagnosis. In childhood, the cure for the disease is much more successful than in adults.

A brain tumor is a serious condition that requires urgent treatment. Knowing and diagnosing in time the first signs and symptoms of an early stage of development of a benign or malignant tumor disease, it is possible to cure the patient.

As long as benign or malignant neoplasms are small in size, detected in the early stages, they can be successfully removed during surgery. The patient can continue to lead a full life. In neglected states, unfortunately, the development of a tumor leads to serious consequences and death. It remains for the patient to accept everything as it is - face to face and humbly trust in the Will of the Most High ...

However, well ... who said that miracles do not happen at all? Sometimes healing can come, it seemed, due to circumstances completely beyond the control of a person.

Neoplasms formed from blood vessels, tissues and membranes of the brain are, as we have already said, benign and malignant. Both species pose a threat to human life, because they gradually squeeze the brain areas responsible for the vital functions of the body - breathing, cardiac activity, and so on. Depending on the reason for which they were formed, neoplasms are distinguished:

primary- benign - develop from their own tissues;
secondary- malignant - the result of metastases of other organs.

It is very difficult to determine the symptoms of a brain tumor in the early stages, but it is necessary for a correct diagnosis in order to save the patient's life. Each type of neoplasm requires its own approach to treatment. In oncology, there is a classification of neoplasms by cell type:

neuroepithelial- develop from their own tissues anywhere in the brain and spinal cord;
pituitary adenoma- is generated from the cells of the pituitary gland during injuries, neuroinfections, pathologies of childbirth, pregnancy;
shell- grow from the membranes of the cerebral cortex;
neuromas- Neoplasms of the cranial nerves.

Treatment of neoplasms has to be removed during a surgical operation with an opening of the skull. One of the options for the operation is an endoscopic method of removing the tumor, without trepanation, with the help of special tools, although the size of the tumor is important here. In addition, methods are used without opening the skull:

HIFU therapy- impact on the neoplasm by ultrasonic waves;
stereotactic radiosurgery- radioactive irradiation of the focus of the disease (name of the instrument - gamma scalpel);
spatial scalpel – cyber scalpel- for hard-to-reach neoplasms.

Benign neoplasms

It is not yet possible to unequivocally identify the cause of the appearance of neoplasms. There are some factors: heredity, radiation, disease.

It has been established that a benign tumor develops slowly and does not metastasize. Its danger lies in exerting pressure on neighboring areas, which causes serious consequences, there is a risk of its transformation into cancer, that is, into a malignant tumor. Early and correct diagnosis is important for timely initiation of treatment.

Symptoms of a benign brain tumor in the early stages are dizziness for no apparent reason, headaches that have an increasing character. This also includes:

nausea, vomiting;
the appearance of seizures;
violations of coordination;
hallucinations;
paralysis of the limbs;
memory loss;
hearing loss, visual impairment;
loss of sensation;
speech disorder;
loss of concentration.

Malignant tumors

When the tumor grows rapidly, does not have clear boundaries, penetrates (grows) into neighboring tissues, it is malignant. There is tissue necrosis, bleeding, often it is an inoperable cancer. The patient may die within a few months.

Most primary malignant tumors - gliomas - can have different degrees of development. The most rapidly developing and dangerous neoplasm is glioblastoma of the last 4 stages of development.

The first signs of brain cancer at an early stage

Often, at the beginning of the disease, a person does not focus on the symptoms, because the main one - a headache - can manifest itself for various reasons. To the doctor already go at more serious manifestations.

What symptoms of a brain tumor in the early stages do you need to pay attention to?

First of all, these include:

dull, arching pain in the head;
morning vomiting;
sensation of rotation of objects around;
poor spatial orientation;
epileptic seizures;
hearing loss;
vision problems - the appearance of flies, fog.

How does a brain tumor manifest itself?

It is necessary to pay special attention to signs of a brain tumor at an early stage - headaches that appear suddenly. They are long, appear in the supine position, especially at night, in the morning.

At the same time, headaches in brain tumors are accompanied by nausea and vomiting.

Neoplasms in the cerebellum, which is responsible for the coordinated movement of the body, cause cerebellar, cerebral, remote symptoms.

They appear:

pain in the occipital region of the head;
disorder of sitting, standing;
paralysis, paresis.

In adults: men and women

A sharp weight loss is considered a symptom of a brain tumor in the early stages, because the neoplasm destroys the metabolic processes in the body. Men and women of all ages are faced with a manifestation of weakness, which appears when infected cells enter the bloodstream.

Other symptoms of a brain tumor include:

elevated temperature;
hair and skin changes.

It is noted that more often the disease occurs in men after 65 years. Representatives of the white race are more prone to brain tumors than others.

The provoking factors are:

professional - work associated with radiation, electromagnetic radiation;
radiation therapy of the head;
diseases associated with impaired immunity - AIDS, HIV;
chemotherapy;
organ transplant.

In children and adolescents

Neoplasms of the brain stem - gliomas - often occur in childhood. For a mature person, this disease is not typical. Syndromes of childhood and adolescence show similarities with adults - these are prolonged headaches, nausea.

There are specific signs of a child's brain tumor. These include:

development of scoliosis;
back pain;
earlier sexual development;
strabismus;
growth stop;
gait disturbance;
problems with coordination;
convulsions;
paralysis of the optic nerves.

Diagnostic methods

If you find the initial signs of a brain tumor, you should consult a doctor, he will prescribe a biochemical blood test.

In the early stages, an oculist can detect a problem during an examination of the fundus. You can go to several specialists to find out the cause of the disease.

In order to specify the diagnosis, the following is carried out:

angiography of cerebral vessels;
computed tomography;
MRI - magnetic resonance imaging;
spinal puncture;
electroencephalography;
PEC-CT - tomography using radioactive contrast.

Prognosis and consequences of the disease

Progress in the field of medicine, the emergence of equipment that allows you to perform the most complex operations on the brain, have increased the survival time of patients. An important prerequisite for good prognosis remains early diagnosis, which makes possible survival of up to 80% in the next five years.

Positive forecasts are determined by:

the location of the tumor;
age - the younger, the better;
the size of the neoplasm;
prevalence of neoplasm;
general health;
the degree of malignancy;
type of tumor.

Children who have had the disease before the age of 7 may have problems processing information, its visual perception. Since the treatment of the disease is associated with an invasion of the parts of the brain that oversee important functions of the body, there may be associated consequences in adults.

There may be:

mental disorders;
paralysis;
dementia;
blindness;
speech disorder;
death.

What it is?

It's always hard to talk about childhood tumors. Not only journalists and observers do not like to do this, but also the doctors themselves - this is too sensitive a topic, because by and large the doctor cannot answer the main questions of parents who are faced with the presence of such a pathology in their child - why did this happen and what is the prognosis for future.

In the occurrence of brain tumors in children (and in adults) there is still a lot of unknown. Nevertheless, there is information, and it is constantly updated, since up to 30% of cases of all childhood tumors are nothing more than brain tumors.

Brain tumors are a fairly large group of neoplasms, both malignant (cancerous) and benign. Tumors develop due to the fact that uncontrolled abnormal growth and cell division begins in a certain organ.

Not so long ago, these cells were a natural component of the brain tissue, membranes, but under the influence of certain factors, they begin to grow at an incredible rate, as a result, they turn into a tumor. Which cells began to grow, ultimately determines the type of formation.

If the cells of the brain tissue grow, they talk about ependymoma or astrocytoma. Such tumors are most common - in about 60% of cases. If the cells of the meninges divide abnormally, a meningioma is observed. Abnormal proliferation of pituitary cells leads to the development of a pituitary adenoma.

meningioma

pituitary adenoma

When the cells that make up the cranial nerves divide inadequately, a neuroma develops. There are also dysembryogenetic tumors that form in a child during the period of embryonic development, but they are very rare.

If the tumor appeared independently and for the first time, they speak of a primary neoplasm, for example, a primary neuroma. If it was the result of the penetration of metastases from other diseased organs, then they speak of a secondary tumor.

Location of the neuroma

Peculiarities of children's tumors are that they may not manifest themselves for a long time, because the child's body has an incredible compensatory potential, it "smoothes" the pathology, levels out the symptoms. That is why the tumor found in a child is sometimes already quite large.

Symptoms and first signs

What the symptoms will be depends on in which part of the brain the neoplasm has appeared, which parts of the brain are compressed, which cells are destroyed because of this. The earliest symptoms are usually called focal, they include the following.

Change in sensitivity and perception. The child's susceptibility to pain, light, sound, and touch increases or decreases. Children over 3 years old may demonstrate a violation of the perception of themselves in space, for example, the baby cannot understand and explain how he holds his hand - up with his palm or down if he closes his eyes.
memory loss. The child begins to forget even those things that he knows very well, may stop recognizing someone from his family, may forget letters and numbers if he already knows them. Memory for events, both distant and recent, also suffers.
Movement disorder. As the tumor grows, the transmission of signals from the brain to the muscles deteriorates, resulting in complete paralysis; if a tumor of the brain stem, bone marrow develops, paralysis is local.

Seizures and convulsions. First, as a rule, there are small convulsions, short in time, then epilepsy may develop.
Hearing impairment. The child may lose the ability to hear, or may lose the ability to understand speech. If the tumor affects the speech recognition centers, then all words turn into incomprehensible noise for a small patient.
Visual impairment. If the optic nerve is pinched or damaged, the child partially or completely loses sight. It may not be the nerve that is affected, but the part of the brain responsible for the analysis of what is seen, and then the little patient ceases to recognize familiar objects.
Speech anomalies. With the defeat of the center of speech, the ability to speak is completely or partially lost. Speech may persist but become unintelligible mumbling.
General deterioration. It is associated with damage to the vagus nerve by a growing tumor. It manifests itself in the form of attacks of severe dizziness, loss of balance, inability to get up from a sitting position, as well as instability of blood pressure, attacks of severe weakness.
Disorders of coordination of movements. This happens when the cerebellum is damaged. The symptom progresses quite quickly from small inaccuracies in movements to the complete inability to make a purposeful movement, for example, to take a certain object from the table.
Mental disorders. A child with a tumor, as the latter grows, changes in behavior, in reactions. Most often, children become aggressive, irritable and whiny. If the lesions are significant, self-identification may be lost. Many have visual and auditory hallucinations.

Symptoms of the second plan, appearing already when the tumor is quite large, are called cerebral. These include:

severe headaches;
persistent or regular vomiting;
inability to eat normally due to the fact that any substance that enters the root of the tongue causes a vomiting attack;
dizziness.

In infants and a little older, the symptoms have their own characteristics. Most often in babies, the tumor manifests itself as changes in behavior: the child constantly cries, whines, moans, screams, throws tantrums for no apparent reason, he often vomits, signs of hearing or vision loss are noticeable, a tendency to convulsions and frequent nosebleeds.

Also reflexes - swallowing, sucking can be broken.

It is impossible to recognize a pathology by the totality of symptoms without diagnosis, but the appearance of such symptoms, or at least one of them, should be a good reason to postpone all affairs and plans and go with the child to see a doctor.

Why is it important to do this immediately? Because in the case of tumors, it is important to be on time - to diagnose on time, to start treatment on time. According to the statistics of the Ministry of Health, over the past three decades, the number of children with brain tumors has increased significantly - almost 3.5 times. In 15% of cases of all tumors, we are talking about cancerous neoplasms.

Causes

Since the causes of the development of the tumor are not known for certain, not a single doctor will even take the liberty of suggesting why the uncontrolled division of recently healthy brain cells began in the child. But something needs to be said, the doctor cannot answer the parents with an honest “I don’t know.”

Therefore, the onset of a tumor process is usually explained by reasons that explain everything that cannot be explained - bad ecology, radioactive contamination, genetically modified foods, toxins, in extreme cases, genetics, if it turns out that one of the child's relatives also suffered from a brain tumor or in general had problems with tumors.

It is believed that to provoke (indirectly) the growth of brain cells under the influence of an abnormal immune response can be various traumatic brain injuries that a child could receive when falling, in a fight, playing sports.

The risk group for the likelihood of cerebral neoplasms includes children with HIV infection, as well as children who, for some other medical reasons, are prescribed drugs that suppress the activity of the immune system (immunosuppressors).

Diagnostics

Having found suspicious signs in a child, such as weakness, lethargy, irritability, fatigue, frequent and severe headaches, behavioral changes, systematic vomiting that is not associated with other causes, you should immediately contact a neurologist or pediatrician.

For primary diagnosis, methods such as EEG, EchoEG, CT, MRI are used, for babies up to one and a half years old, neurosonography (ultrasound of the brain) is performed. When a neoplasm is detected, PET-CT is performed, this technique makes it possible to assess the degree of malignancy. The exact cellular nature can be established by histology.

Neurosonography

CT scan

EEG - electroencephalography

Treatment

Conservative treatments focus solely on relieving certain symptoms, such as persistent vomiting or severe headaches. Medicines do not eliminate the cause of these symptoms. Therefore, surgery is considered the most effective, during which doctors remove the tumor.

If the tumor is small and slowly growing, stereotactic radiosurgery may be used, in which the tumor is exposed to radiation. But usually a complete recovery does not occur: the tumor only stops developing, and sometimes decreases slightly in size. If the neoplasm grows quite intensively, then this method is not suitable for treatment.

Surgical removal

Stereotactic radiosurgery

After the operation, and sometimes before and after it, courses of radiation proton therapy, as well as courses of chemotherapy, are carried out. Treatment is very serious and difficult, long. It will require parents to mobilize forces, both physical and moral.

A lot depends on them - the child needs constant support, love and care, as well as a firm parental faith in a positive outcome of treatment.

On this long and difficult path, they will meet different people - attentive and cynical doctors, representatives of different religions who will call them to pray, as well as healers, false healers, magicians and wizards who will offer free assistance in healing the child "without surgery and drugs."

It is at this moment that the temptation to start giving the child aviation kerosene, a mixture of vodka and butter according to the Shevchenko method, mouse droppings can prevail over common sense. It is necessary to refrain from such “treatment”, trusting the doctors. Believe me, they want your kids to be healthy no less than yours.

Predictions and consequences

Benign tumors are considered the most favorable for prognosis. With their convenient location and accessibility, neoplasms in children are quickly removed. The downside is that no one will give guarantees that a benign formation will not appear again, and this may require a second operation.

Tumors of the spinal bone marrow, subtentorial, localized in the middle section, are much more difficult to operate. If the tumor is malignant, moreover, hard to reach, the prognosis is unfavorable.

It is very difficult to say something about the long-term consequences, because not only the tumor itself can harm the child, but also the methods of its treatment, especially during the age periods when certain brain skills are formed - in newborns, at 6 months, at 11-12 months, in 3 years.

Survival statistics are compiled over a five-year period. It says that 60 to 75% of children survive.

You can learn more about the diagnosis of brain tumors in children from the following video.

Brain tumor - symptoms in the early stages. First manifestations and diagnosis

Diagnostics

Treatment of a brain tumor in children

Informative video

Treatment after surgery

Informative video

Brain tumor in a child: prognosis

Informative video: surgery to remove a brain tumor in children

Common Symptoms of Brain Cancer

Specific symptoms of the disease

Signs of damage to the brain stem

Causes

Common types of illness

Main symptoms

Symptoms of the disease depending on its location

Diagnosis of the disease

Therapy of the disease

Important to remember

Benign neoplasms

Malignant tumors

The first signs of brain cancer at an early stage

In adults: men and women

In children and adolescents

Diagnostic methods

Prognosis and consequences of the disease

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