CANCER central nervous system (brain and spinal cord)
Disease information
CANCER central nervous system (brain and spinal cord)
Cancer
of the
central
nervous
system
(
brain and spinal cord
)
It consists of the disorganized and uncontrolled proliferation of cells in support of the
central
nervous
system
.
Because the brain is protected in
a
rigid box, any increase in their volume is harmful, so it
was
considered all the
tumors
as malignant.
Causes.
In principle, although recent research points to the contrary, the nerve cells of the adult does not multiply, so the brain cancers do not originate there.
To operate the nerve cells need the help of several auxiliary cells:
Astrocytes,
Oligodendrocytes,
Cell coating (meninges and epéndimo; cover external and internal brain) and.
provinientes cells from the rest of the body, such as white blood cells.
They come from these cancers.
The brain is also the preferred place for metastatic cancers originated elsewhere in the body, especially lung,
breast
and lymph.
Signs and symptoms.
Simplifying, brain
tumors
produce symptoms attributable to three main causes:
Irritation of the nerve tissue, which causes
seizures
.
Loss of
function
, which according to the affected area, will produce:
Partial loss of vision,
aphasia (an inability to speak)
paralysis and.
loss of sensitivity,
Increasing the pressure inside the skull:
Intense
headaches
,
escopetazo vomiting,
alterations in the mobility of pupils,
Attributable to all of them can be great changes in personality.
Often cancers of the
nervous
tissue does not produce symptoms until they have
a
surprisingly large volume.
In advanced stages is
a
coma (loss of consciousness) and even
a
decerebration (disconnection of the brain)
Risk Factors.
Unknown.
Some rare
genetic
diseases
show an increase in this type of tumor.
Prevention.
Unknown.
Diagnosis and Treatment.
In the presence of signs and symptoms suggestive, will be conducted clinical relevance:
Neurologic Shopping.
Fund eye,
visual
field measurement,
The analytical does not play
a
big role.
The imaging tests are critical, especially scanner (TAC) and resonance (NMR) brain, which detect
a
large proportion of cases,
tumors
larger than 1 cm.
When in doubt, be carried out tests to rule out the
origin
of metastatic tumor, expanding the search to the entire body, using
multiple
tests.
The treatment of brain
tumors
is mainly surgical.
In some cases radiotherapy plays an important role, to settle in areas beyond the reach of the scalpel.
Anticancer medication game
a
very modest role in these types of
tumors
.
Today, their
genetic
treatment is one of the most investigated, although, for
now
, with few results.
General Measures.
Psychological advice for the patient and his
family
,
Means for the care and replacement of deficits caused by the tumor, such as railings, walkers, and so on.
Medication.
Primarily to relieve pain and control
seizures
, if it occurs.
Also to reduce the pressure inside the skull.
Complications.
Those derived from the growth of the tumor.
Forecast.
Some brain
tumors
such as meningiomas and craniofaringiomas, are curable by surgery.
Others, like astrocytomas, can completely removed, depending on their accessibility.
Most are incurable, limiting surgery to reduce and delay the effects of the same (palliative treatment)
The quality of life of patients can be kept well until very advanced stages.
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