// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did the brain stem tumor say? I've got a growing concern.
A brain stem tumor is a tumor in the part of the brain that connects to the spinal cord (the brain stem).
Symptoms and signs
[edit]The symptoms of brain stem tumors vary greatly and can include ataxia, cranial nerve palsy, headaches, problems with speech and swallowing, hearing loss, weakness, hemiparesis, vision abnormalities, ptosis, and behavioral changes. Another possible symptom is vomiting. Headaches related to brainstem tumors may be worse shortly after waking up in the morning.[1]
Diagnosis
[edit]An MRI is better than a CT scan when a brainstem tumor is in the differential diagnosis.[2]
Types of brain stem tumors
[edit]The most common form of brainstem tumor is the brainstem glioma.[3]
Treatment
[edit]Treatment typically consists of radiotherapy and steroids for palliation of symptoms.[4][5] Radiotherapy may result in minimally extended survival time.[5]
Prognosis
[edit]Prognosis is very poor, with only 37% of treated patients surviving one year or more.[6] Topotecan has been studied in the treatment of brainstem glioma,[7] otherwise, chemotherapy is probably ineffective, though further study is needed.[8]
References
[edit]- ↑ "ABTA's: A Primer of Brain Tumors".
- ↑ li, Xuanxuan; Butler, Benjamin; Sawlani, Jhanvi; Al-Ali, Samer; Bowen, Michael; Patel, Markand; Flintham, Robert; Herbert, Jane; Davies, Nigel; Sawlani, Vijay (2025-06-01). "Brainstem lesion diagnostic Dilemma: The role of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging". Interdisciplinary Neurosurgery. 40 102018. doi:10.1016/j.inat.2025.102018. ISSN 2214-7519.
- ↑ Liu, Huanbing; Qin, Xiaowei; Zhao, Liyan; Zhao, Gang; Wang, Yubo (2021-06-11). "Epidemiology and Survival of Patients With Brainstem Gliomas: A Population-Based Study Using the SEER Database". Frontiers in Oncology. 11 692097. doi:10.3389/fonc.2021.692097. ISSN 2234-943X. PMC 8237753. PMID 34195093.
- ↑ Ryken, Timothy C.; McDermott, Michael; Robinson, Paula D.; Ammirati, Mario; Andrews, David W.; Asher, Anthony L.; Burri, Stuart H.; Cobbs, Charles S.; Gaspar, Laurie E.; Kondziolka, Douglas; Linskey, Mark E.; Loeffler, Jay S.; Mehta, Minesh P.; Mikkelsen, Tom; Olson, Jeffrey J. (2010-01-01). "The role of steroids in the management of brain metastases: a systematic review and evidence-based clinical practice guideline". Journal of Neuro-Oncology. 96 (1): 103–114. doi:10.1007/s11060-009-0057-4. ISSN 1573-7373. PMC 2808527. PMID 19957014.
- 1 2 Telkhade, Tejshri; Rathored, Jaishriram; Budhbaware, Tanushree; Mulugeta, Kidus; Iratwar, Sandeep (2026-04-20). "Prolonged survival in pediatric diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma following intensity-modulated radiation therapy: a case report". Journal of Medical Case Reports. 20 (1): 300. doi:10.1186/s13256-026-06026-7. ISSN 1752-1947. PMC 13224494. PMID 42010728.
- ↑ "Brainstem Gliomas: Background, Pathophysiology, Etiology". Medscape. 2025-11-05.
- ↑ Bruce, Jeffrey N.; Fine, Robert L.; Canoll, Peter; Yun, Jonathan; Kennedy, Benjamin C.; Rosenfeld, Steven S.; Sands, Stephen A.; Surapaneni, Krishna; Lai, Rose; Yanes, Candix L.; Bagiella, Emilia; DeLaPaz, Robert L. (December 2011). "Regression of recurrent malignant gliomas with convection-enhanced delivery of topotecan". Neurosurgery. 69 (6): 1272–1279, discussion 1279–1280. Bibcode:2011Neusg..69.1272B. doi:10.1227/NEU.0b013e3182233e24. ISSN 1524-4040. PMC 4940854. PMID 21562434.
- ↑ Brainstem Gliomas~treatment at eMedicine
External links
[edit]- Brain stem tumor entry in the public domain NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms
This article incorporates public domain material from Dictionary of Cancer Terms. U.S. National Cancer Institute.
 | This oncology article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information. |