MenuTypes of Tumors
There are over 120 types of brain tumors. The most common are listed below, however if you don't see your tumor type please call our CareLine at 800-886-ABTA (2282) for more information.
A note regarding prognosis (prediction of life expectancy): While we have included prognosis information for some types of tumors, each person’s tumor is different. Emerging information about biological differences in tumors may explain why outcomes for some people are different than others. We recommend that you discuss prognosis for your specific tumor type with your physician.
A hemangioma is an abnormal buildup of blood vessels in the skin or internal organs. There are two types: hemangioblastoma and hemangiopericytoma.
Lipomas are rare, benign tumors composed of fatty tissue. They are sometimes associated with other congenital abnormalities of the nervous system.
Lymphoma is a cancer that arises from the cells of the lymphatic system. In the brain, this type of cancer is called Primary CNS Lymphoma (PCNSL).
Medulloblastoma is a fast-growing, high-grade tumor that always begins in the cerebellum.
Meningiomas are often benign tumors arising from the meninges of the brain and spinal cord; they represent about 34% of all primary brain tumors and occur most frequently in middle-aged women.
A metastatic, or secondary, brain tumor is formed by cancer cells from a primary cancer elsewhere in the body that have spread to the brain.
A neurofibroma is a tumor or growth located along a nerve or nervous tissue. Neurofibromatosis refers to two different genetic diseases characterized by skin abnormalities and nervous system tumors.
Neuronal and Mixed Neuronal-Glial Tumors
Neuronal and mixed neuronal-glial tumors come from ganglion-type cells, which are groups of nerve cells. They are small, slow-growing, and typically benign.
An oligoastrocytoma is a “mixed glioma” tumor, which contains both abnormal oligodendroglioma and astrocytoma cells. Common symptoms of these tumors include seizures, heachache, and personality changes.
Oligodendrogliomas come from oligodendrocytes, one of the types of cells that make up the supportive, or glial, tissue of the brain. They can be low-grade (grade II) or high-grade (grade III, or anaplastic).