A malignant brain tumor refers to a group of rapidly growing abnormal cells that spread to other parts of your body (metastasize). The American Brain Tumor Association says that a brain tumor is also considered malignant when it provokes life-threatening destruction and is located in an important area of your brain. For example, it may be located in the part of your brain that regulates breathing. Anaplastic astrocytomas, glioblastoma multiforme and childhood medulloblastoma are a few types of malignant brain tumors.
Glioblastoma Multiforme
Glioblastoma multiforme, also known as grade IV astrocytomas, is one of the most malignant brain tumors that exists, says the Mayo Clinic. Typically, this type of brain tumor is found in adults about 55 years old. However, glioblastoma multiforme can appear in any age, including childhood.
Symptoms of glioblastoma multiforme include seizures, headaches, behavioral changes and memory loss, says the American Brain Tumor Association. Usually, surgery is performed to remove the tumor. Sometimes, the tumor may invade an important brain structure and only a part of the tumor can be removed. In other instances, your surgeon may be unable to remove the tumor at all, since that would threaten your life. In that case, your surgeon will take a sample of your brain tumor (biopsy), and its cells will be studied under a microscope to determine the severity of the glioblastoma multiforme tumor. Treatment will be based on its severity. Radiation, chemotherapy and medications such as corticosteroids can aid in tumor size reduction.
Medulloblastoma
The University of Maryland Greenbaum Cancer Center says that childhood medulloblastoma is a brain tumor typically found in children. Symptoms of medulloblastoma include a headache, vomiting, nausea, trouble walking or seeing and leg or arm numbness or tingling. Medulloblastoma can also cause unsteadiness on your child's feet and the inability to hear. Like glioblastoma multiforme, treatment for childhood medulloblastoma includes surgical removal of the tumor and shrinkage of the tumor with radiation and chemotherapy. Sometimes, this cancer can recur even after successful treatment. The tumor can present in exactly the same area of the brain, or it may present differently.
Anaplastic Astrocytoma
Children's Hospital of Boston indicates that anaplastic astrocytoma is a childhood malignant and severe tumor that affects the glial (supportive) tissues in your brain. In fact, they state that anaplastic astrocytomas and glioblastoma multiforme compose 10 percent of brain and spinal cord (central nervous system) cancers in children.
Anaplastic astrocytoma symptoms are much like childhood medulloblastoma symptoms. They include fatigue, a headache, seizures, vomiting, weakness and changes in thinking and behavior. Initial treatment also involves surgical removal of the anaplastic astrocytoma tumor. Radiation typically follows surgery. Unfortunately, Children's Hospital Boston says that no chemotherapy treatment has proven effective in prolonging survival.
