ajukasvajad

Aju kasvajad, known in English as brain tumors, are abnormal growths of cells within the brain or other parts of the central nervous system. They can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous) and may originate from different tissues, including glial cells (gliomas), meninges (meningiomas), or the pituitary gland. Primary brain tumors begin in the brain, while metastatic tumors spread to the brain from cancers elsewhere in the body.

Classification and types

Brain tumors are commonly categorized by their location, cell type, and growth rate. Gliomas include astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas, and glioblastomas. Meningiomas arise from the meninges and are often benign but can cause symptoms through mass effect. Other types include pituitary adenomas, schwannomas, and medulloblastomas, which are more common in children. Tumors are graded by their aggressiveness, with higher grades generally indicating faster growth and a worse prognosis.

Causes and risk factors

Most brain tumors occur without a known cause. Genetic conditions such as neurofibromatosis, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, and von Hippel-Lindau disease increase risk. Prior exposure to ionizing radiation is a recognized factor. Most cases, however, have no clear causal link.

Symptoms and diagnosis

Symptoms depend on tumor size and location and may include headaches, seizures, cognitive or personality changes, weakness, numbness, or vision and speech difficulties. Diagnosis relies on neurological examination and imaging, primarily magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); computed tomography (CT) can be used when MRI is unavailable. A biopsy provides definitive histology.

Treatment and prognosis

Management is multidisciplinary and individualized. Options include surgical resection to remove tumor mass, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Some tumors respond to targeted therapies or hormone therapy. Prognosis varies widely by tumor type, grade, patient age, and extent of resection. Benign tumors like some meningiomas may have favorable outcomes; high-grade gliomas tend to have poorer prognosis.