The brain stem is located underneath the two hemispheres of the brain, linking the brain to the spinal cord. The brain stem controls blood pressure, the heartbeat, breathing and the nerves that control hearing, seeing, walking, talking, eating and wakefulness. According to the University of Minnesoda, Masonic Cancer Center, tumor growth in the brain stem is a serious medical condition and requires the immediate attention of a neurologist.
Glioma
Gliomas are the most prevalent type of brain tumor, accounting for 75 percent of childhood and less than 50 percent of adult brain tumor cases, according to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Cancer Center. Glioma tumors arise from the three types of supportive cells of the central nervous system: astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and ependymal cells. Several types of gliomas are malignant: glioblastoma multiforme, the most common type; the fast-growing anaplastic astrocytoma; and the slower growing astrocytoma and oligodendroglioma. Glioma tumor growth can occur in any of the brain stem regions, namely, the pons, midbrain, tectum or cervicomedullary regions. Listed by the National Cancer Institute, signs and symptoms include seizures in 50 to 80 percent of patients, headache, nausea, vomiting, ataxia or difficulty with balance, dizziness, fatigue, vision or hearing problems, and altered states of consciousness.
Hemangioblastoma
Konstantin Slavin, M.D., Associate Professor of the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Illinois at Chicago, writes in eMedicine that hemangioblastomas are rare, benign tumors that account for 1 to 2.5 percent of brain tumor cases. Hemangioblastomas derive from stem cells that produce blood vessels and blood cells in the central nervous system. Most frequently observed in the 35- to 45-year old age group, hemangioblastomas are associated with von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease, a rare genetic condition that causes tumor growth. Although, hemangioblastomas are slow growing and do not metastasize, symptoms include: headache, vomiting and nausea, gait disturbance, and balance problems, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Ganglioglioma
According to Anil Khosla, Assistant Professor at Washington University School of Medicine, ganglioglioma tumors are rarely malignant, accounting for 1.3 percent of brain tumors. Gangliogliomas derive from two types of cells: ganglion cells, which are a group of nerve cells and glial cells, which support and protect nerve cells in the central nervous system. Due to the relative slow growth rate of gangliogliomas, patients with these tumors tend to present to the doctor with symptoms that have been occurring for many months. Gangliogliomas are most often associated with seizures, in addition to headache, vomiting and fatigue, according to the National Cancer Institute
References
- University of Minnesoda, Masonic Cancer Center: Childhood Brain Stem Glioma Treatment
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Cancer Center: Brain Tumor
- National Cancer Institute: General Information About Childhood Brain Stem Glioma
- eMedicine from WebMD: Hemangioblastoma
- eMedicine from WebMD: Ganglioglioma
