Brain Tumor Types
Types of Brain Tumors
There are more than 120 different types of brain and CNS tumors. The tumors included in our directory reflect the statistically most common primary brain and CNS tumors according to data collected by the Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States (CBTRUS).Germ Cell Tumor
As the name implies, these tumors arise from various “germ cells” found in the brain. They can be either benign or malignant. Germ cell tumors include the germinoma, the teratoma, the
Ependymoma
Ependymomas arise from the ependymal cells that line the ventricles of the brain and the center of the spinal cord. They are soft, grayish, or red tumors which may contain cysts
Cysts
Brain cysts located in the brain are not truly “brain tumors” because they do not arise from the brain tissue itself. Although they tend to be (benign noncancerous), they are
Craniopharyngioma
A craniopharyngioma is a benign (noncancerous) tumor arising from small nests of cells near the pituitary stalk. Crangiopharyngiomas are localized tumors and become large before they are diagnosed. How malignant they
Choroid Plexus
These tumors arise from brain tissue called the “choroid plexus.” They commonly invade nearby tissue and spread widely via the cerebrospinal fluid. Like other brain tumors, choroid plexus tumors are
Chondrosarcoma
Chondroma is a rare, benign tumor that tends to arise at the base of the skull, especially in the area near the pituitary gland. These tumors are generally very slow-growing
Atypical Teratoid Rhaboid Tumor (ATRT)
ATRTs are rare, high-grade tumors that occur most often in children age 3 and younger. They can appear as a large, bulky mass and tend to be fast-growing and frequently
Astrocytoma
Astrocytomas are tumors that arise from astrocytes—star-shaped cells that make up the “glue-like” or supportive tissue of the brain. These tumors are “graded” on a scale from I to IV
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