Brain and Spinal tumors
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Brain and Spinal tumors
Includes both primary and metastatic tumors, with increasing detection due to better imaging.
Brain Tumors
Type
Nature
Examples
Primary Brain Tumors
Arise in brain tissue
Glioblastoma, Astrocytoma, Oligodendroglioma, Meningioma, Medulloblastoma
Metastatic Brain Tumors
Spread from other cancers
Lung, breast, melanoma, renal, GI cancers
Benign Tumors
Usually slow-growing
Meningioma, Pituitary adenoma, Schwannoma
Spinal Cord Tumors
Location
Examples
Intramedullary
Ependymoma, Astrocytoma
Extramedullary
Schwannoma, Meningioma
Vertebral/ Extradural
Metastatic disease, chordoma
Risk Factors
Factor
Comments
Genetic Syndromes
NF1, NF2, Li-Fraumeni, VHL, Turcot’s syndrome
Ionizing Radiation Exposure
Especially in childhood or for previous cancers
Immunosuppression
HIV/AIDS increases risk of CNS lymphoma
Family History
Rare, but familial clustering seen in some cases
Environmental factors
Limited evidence (e.g., mobile phone use unproven)
Metastasis
Brain/spinal metastases from systemic cancers
Role of Radiation Therapy
Brain Tumors
Indication
Radiation Modality
High-grade gliomas (e.g., GBM)
IMRT/VMAT + concurrent & adjuvant temozolomide
Low-grade gliomas
RT if symptomatic, residual tumor, or progression
Brain metastases
SRS (e.g., Gamma Knife, CyberKnife), WBRT
Meningiomas
RT for high-grade or recurrent tumors
Pituitary adenomas
SRS or fractionated RT if surgery incomplete/not feasible
Medulloblastoma (pediatric)
CSI (craniospinal irradiation) + boost to posterior fossa
Spinal Tumors
Indication
Radiation Modality
Metastatic spinal disease
Conventional RT or SBRT for pain/cord compression
Primary spinal tumors
Adjuvant RT post-surgery (e.g., ependymoma)
Chordomas, sarcomas
High-dose RT (e.g., proton therapy)
Radiation Techniques
Technique
Use
3D-CRT / IMRT / VMAT
Most common for conformal brain/spinal RT
SRS (Stereotactic Radiosurgery)
Single high dose for small brain lesions
FSRT (Fractionated SRS)
Hypofractionated for lesions near critical areas
CSI (Craniospinal Irradiation)
For tumors with CSF spread (e.g., medulloblastoma)
SBRT (Spine)
For spinal metastases or radioresistant tumors
Common Side Effects
Acute
Chronic
Headache, nausea, fatigue
Neurocognitive decline, radionecrosis, endocrinopathies
Hair loss (local)
Hormonal dysfunction (pituitary), myelopathy (spinal RT)
Key Points
- Radiation is often combined with surgery and chemotherapy in high-grade tumors.
- SRS and SBRT provide high precision for small or metastatic tumors.
- Craniospinal irradiation is standard for tumors prone to CSF dissemination.