Medicine

Brain tumor: what does it look like? 3D visualization

A tumor of the central nervous system, i.e., a tumor of the brain or spine, is an abnormally developing tissue that grows and compresses individual areas in the skull. Its growth causes a number of changes in the functioning of the nervous system. Brain tumors are detected by magnetic resonance imaging. Generated images can show the location as well as size of the particular tumor. Modern technology allows you to go a step further — to create a 3D visualization of such a tumor. So what does a brain tumor look like in 3D technology?

How is a brain tumor formed?

There are many types of brain tumors. Some of them are benign — they do not metastasize, and others are malignant. A tumor is also defined as non-neoplastic changes, which include, among others, aneurysms. Cancer changes may appear earlier in another part of the body. We are talking then about cancer with metastases to the brain, i.e., secondary cancer. In contrast, primary cancer grows directly in or around the brain (e.g., the meninges). The rate at which a brain tumor grows can vary significantly from case to case. Both the rate of its growth and its location have an impact on how it will affect the functioning of the nervous system. The treatment method depends on the size, location, and type of the tumor.

What are the symptoms of a brain tumor?

The symptoms of a brain tumor vary widely. Their type depends on the nature of the tumor and its location. The appearance of symptoms is triggered by pressure on specific areas of the brain or spinal cord. The main symptoms include:

Headaches that gradually become more frequent and stronger;
Nausea and vomiting for no apparent reason;
Eyesight problems (blurry vision, double vision, loss of peripheral vision);
Gradual loss of sensation and motor skills in the arm or leg;
Disturbed balance;
Speech problems;
Difficulty in daily chores;
Personality changes;
Seizure (without previous episodes) or twitching;
Hearing problems.

If you notice any of these symptoms, you should see your doctor. This applies especially to those symptoms that do not disappear, persist and / or worsen for a long time.

Brain tumor causes

As the Mayo Clinic points out, in most cases the causes of primary brain tumors are unclear. So far, doctors have been able to identify some of the factors that may contribute to the development of changes in the brain. The dominant cause is exposure to ionizing radiation. The best known example of its source is radiation induced by nuclear bombs and failures of nuclear power plants. However, is brain cancer hereditary? According to the Mayo Clinic, heredity of brain tumors is not very common. However, if you have a history of brain cancer in your family, you should report it to your doctor.

What does a brain tumor look like?

Below we present views of 3D visualization of metastatic brain tumors. Brain tumors in this case are multifocal — located in many parts of this organ.

Brain tumor — what is the classification?

Brain tumors are a very heterogeneous group, each case may have a different histological as well as genetic profile. Currently, brain tumors are identified based on the 2016 classification of the World Health Organization (WHO). Within it, four groups of tumors are distinguished — from GI to GIV, which were distinguished on the basis of their malignancy.

What does brain surgery look like?

One of the main treatments for brain tumors is surgery. It is used to remove the tumor, but also when the case requires it, to remove part of the tumor in order to slow its growth and ease the symptoms of the disease. There are two main types of surgery — craniectomy and neuroendoscopy. The first one is the most commonly used and consists in cutting out a fragment of the skull in order to remove the tumor. In contrast, neuroendoscopy involves drilling into the patient's skull and then inserting an endoscope to remove the tumor or part of it. This method is also used to remove fluid that is accumulating in the brain.