Neuro - oncology

NEURO ONCOLOGY

Neurooncology is the subspecialty that concerns with treatment of tumours/cancers of the brain and spinal cord. Cancers of the central nervous system are often severe conditions that can often become life threatening if timely treatment is not taken.

Tumours of the nervous system may be classified as primary tumors and secondary or metastatic tumors.
Primary tumors can occur at any age. Most primary cancers are more common among males than females, although meningiomas are more common among females.
Secondary tumors arise due to cancer that has spread from another site of origin through metastasis, compression or direct invasion.

Brain tumours can also be classified as benign and malignant tumours.
Benign tumours are those which a abnormal cells which grow in the brain but lack the ability to invade the surrounding tissues.
They are non cancerous tumours
Eg: meningioma, hemangioblastoma, epidermoid, osteoma

Malignant Tumours are those which are cancerous and can invade the surrounding tissues and also distant tissues(metastasis)
Eg Glioblastoma multiforme, ependymoma, metastatic tumour for other organs.

The three main treatment approaches to tumours of the central nervous system include surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Most of the tumours either benign or malignant need surgical excision. While malignant tumours need Chemotherapy and radiotherapy along with surgery.