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Home > Medical Reference > Patient EducationServices at Maryland GeneralA complete list of inpatient and outpatient healthcare services at MGH.Brain tumors - primary - Treatment of Complications
DescriptionAn in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of brain tumors.Alternative NamesGliomas; Medulloblastomas Treatment of Complications:Peritumoral EdemaSome tumors, particularly medulloblastomas, interfere with the flow of cerebrospinal fluid and cause hydrocephalus (accumulation of fluid in the skull). This causes a build-up fluid in the ventricles (the cavities) in the brain. Symptoms include nausea and vomiting, severe headaches, lethargy, difficulty staying awake, seizures, visual impairment, irritability, and tiredness. The ventricles of the brain are hollow chambers filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which supports the tissues of the brain.  Corticosteroids (commonly called steroids) such as dexamethasone (Decadron), are used to treat peritumoral edema. Side effects include high blood pressure, mood swings, increased risk of infection, stronger appetite, facial swelling, and fluid retention. A shunt procedure may be performed to drain fluid. Shunts are flexible tubes used to reroute and drain the fluid. SeizuresSeizures are common in brain tumor cases, with younger patients having higher risks than older ones. Anti-epileptic medications, such as carbamazepine or phenobarbital, may treat seizures and are helpful in preventing recurrence. These drugs are not useful in preventing a first seizure, however, and they should not be used routinely to treat patients with newly diagnosed brain tumors. Anti-seizure medications should be used only for patients who have experienced a seizure. Anti-seizure medications can interact with some of the chemotherapies used to treat brain cancers, including paclitaxel, irinotecan, interferon, and retinoic acid. Patients should discuss these interactions with their doctors. DepressionAntidepressants can help treat the emotional side effects of associated with brain tumors. Support groups can also have great benefit for both patients and families. Resources
ReferencesBowers DC, Liu Y, Leisenring W, McNeil E, Stovall M, Gurney JG, et al. Late-occurring stroke among long-term survivors of childhood leukemia and brain tumors: a report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. J Clin Oncol. 2006 Nov 20;24(33):5277-82. Epub 2006 Nov 6. Buckner JC, Brown PD, O'Neill BP, Meyer FB, Wetmore CJ, Uhm JH. Central nervous system tumors. Mayo Clin Proc. 2007 Oct;82(10):1271-86. Chandana SR, Movva S, Arora M, Singh T. Primary brain tumors in adults. Am Fam Physician. 2008 May 15;77(10):1423-30. Krex D, Klink B, Hartmann C, von Deimling A, Pietsch T, Simon M, et al. Long-term survival with glioblastoma multiforme. Brain. 2007 Oct;130(Pt 10):2596-606. Epub 2007 Sep 4. Nathan PC, Patel SK, Dilley K, Goldsby R, Harvey J, Jacobsen C, et al. Guidelines for identification of, advocacy for, and intervention in neurocognitive problems in survivors of childhood cancer: a report from the Children's Oncology Group. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2007 Aug;161(8):798-806. National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: Central nervous system cancers. V.1.2008 Neglia JP, Robison LL, Stovall M, Liu Y, Packer RJ, Hammond S, et al. New primary neoplasms of the central nervous system in survivors of childhood cancer: a report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2006 Nov 1;98(21):1528-37. Norden AD, Young GS, Setayesh K, Muzikansky A, Klufas R, Ross GL, et al.Bevacizumab for recurrent malignant gliomas: efficacy, toxicity, and patterns of recurrence. Neurology. 2008 Mar 4;70(10):779-87. Sathornsumetee S, Reardon DA, Desjardins A, Quinn JA, Vredenburgh JJ, Rich JN. Molecularly targeted therapy for malignant glioma. Cancer. 2007 Jul 1;110(1):13-24. Wen PY, Kesari S. Malignant gliomas in adults. N Engl J Med. 2008 Jul 31;359(5):492-507.
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