Neurological Tumors
Neurologic tumors are benign or malignant processes which can occur anywhere in the central or peripheral nervous system and include disorders such as:
- Pituitary adenomas are benign tumors are the pituitary gland, and secrete various hormones, including ones which regulate growth. These tumors can cause symptoms which include vision impairments, growth disorders and hormonal changes.
- Vestibular schwannomas are slow growing tumors on the eighth cranial nerve which goes from the base of the brain to the ear and it is involved in the hearing and balance systems. Symptoms can begin with gradual loss of hearing and ringing in the ear but can progress to balance problems, tingling of the face and symptoms of increased intracranial pressure (headaches, vomiting, sleepiness).
- Meningiomas are slow growing tumors of the meninges, i.e. membranes that protect the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms include headaches, nausea, weakness of certain muscles, vision and auditory impairments, depending of the tumor location.
- Brain tumors are divided into two basic categories: primary brain tumors which begin to grow in the brain and can be benign or malignant; secondary brain tumors spread to the brain from other parts of the body and are always malignant.
- Neurofibromatosis (NF) is a genetic disease, which causes tumor growth in different parts of the body. There are two basic types of the disease. With NF1, symptoms include brown spots on the skin, bone deformities and mild intellectual disability. With NF2, symptoms additionally include ringing in the ears, balance problems and pain of the face.