Brain and Spine Cancer

Primary tumors are tumors that begin in the brain or spinal cord and are named by the type of brain tissue they start in. The most common type of primary brain tumor is a glioma. This type starts in the supportive (glial) tissue of the brain. Some types of gliomas include:

• Astrocytoma. This is the most common type of glioma. It starts in small star-shaped cells called astrocytes. In adults, an astrocytoma usually grows in the cerebrum. In children, they can grow in the cerebellum, cerebrum, or brain stem. Most astrocytomas spread into nearby normal brain tissue and are hard to cure with surgery. Glioblastoma is a type of astrocytoma that tends to grow very quickly. 
• Brain stem glioma.  This kind of glioma starts in the brain stem. It's more common in children than in adults. Because the brain stem controls many important functions, such as breathing and heart rate, this kind of tumor usually can’t be removed by surgery.
• Ependymoma. This kind of tumor starts in cells that line the fluid-filled spaces within the brain. These spaces are called ventricles. The tumor doesn’t often grow into nearby brain tissue. This means in some cases it can be cured with surgery.
• Oligodendroglioma. This kind of tumor starts in cells that make myelin, the fatty substance that surrounds nerves. Like an astrocytoma, this tumor tends to spread into nearby brain tissue and is often hard to cure with surgery. 
• Optic nerve glioma. This rare glioma is most common in children. It's linked to a syndrome called NF1 (neurofibromatosis type 1). The tumor grows in or around the nerve that sends messages from the eyes to the brain. This can cause vision changes. It can also cause hormone changes because it's close to the pituitary gland. 

Other types of primary tumors include:

• Embryonal tumor or primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET). This kind of tumor grows more often in young children. It can start anywhere in the brain in early forms of nerve cells. The most common type is medulloblastoma. It starts in the cerebellum. These tumors tend to grow and spread quickly. 
• Tumor of the pineal gland.  This rare tumor starts in the pineal gland. This is a tiny organ near the center of the brain. The tumor can be fast-growing, called pineoblastoma. It's most common in children and linked with an inherited change in the RB1 (retinoblastoma) gene.
• Pituitary tumor. This kind of tumor starts in the pituitary gland at the base of the brain. It's almost never cancer. Still, it can cause serious symptoms because of its location and because it may make too many hormones. 
• Craniopharyngioma. This kind of tumor starts near the pituitary gland. It usually occurs in children and is often slow growing. But it can cause symptoms if it presses on the pituitary gland or on nearby nerves. 
• Schwannoma. This kind of tumor starts in myelin-making cells that surround certain nerves. These are called Schwann cells. The tumor can start in the vestibular nerve in the inner ear that helps with balance. If it grows there, the tumor is called a vestibular schwannoma or an acoustic neuroma. This type of tumor is usually not cancer.
• Meningioma. This kind of tumor starts in the outer linings of the brain (meninges). It's most common in adults. Many meningiomas can be removed with surgery, but some may grow back.  
• Primary central nervous system lymphoma. This is an aggressive, rare type of tumor that starts in lymphocytes. This is a type of immune cell. The tumor is common in people with a disease of the immune system, such as AIDS. But new HIV treatments have made it less common.

These are tumors that begin in another body part and spread to the brain or spinal cord. In adults, secondary brain tumors are more common than primary brain tumors. Cancer in the brain that has spread from another part of the body is not brain cancer. It's still the same type of cancer as where it started.