Not all types of brain tumours cause symptoms, and not all cause the same. These symptoms can be caused by two main reasons:
- The tumor is pressing or encroaching on other parts of the brain and keeping them from functioning normally
- Swelling in the brain caused directly form the tumor of for surrounding inflammation
The most common symptoms are: headache, weakness, clumsiness, difficulty in walking and seizures. Also there are non specific ones such as: vomiting, abnormalities in vision, difficulty in speech….
However, non of these symptoms are brain tumor characteristic. Therefore a further diagnostic testing is needed to ensure the presence of a tumor. Furthermore, usually the appearance of these symptoms is gradually and easy to be missed, even though in some cases the tumor can be manifested suddenly, for example in a stroke.
The recommended cue to seek for medical attention is when the following events are detected:
- Unexplained and persistent vomiting
- Double vision or unexplained blurring, specially on only one side
- Lethargy
- New seizures
- New pattern or type of headaches.
The location of the tumour is the highest determinant of the symptoms a patient experiences. There are over 120 types of brain tumours.
Symptoms related to the tumour location:
- Pressure or headache near the tumor.
- Loss of balance and difficulty with fine motor skills is linked with a tumor in the cerebellum.
- Changes in judgement and muscle weakness or paralysis is associated with a tumor in the frontal lobe of the cerebrum
- Partial o complete loss of vision is caused by a tumor in the occipital or temporal lobe.
- Changes in speech, hearing, memory or emotional state, and problems understanding or retrieving words can be caused by a tumor in the frontal or temporal lobe of the cerebrum.
- Altered perception of touch or pressure, arm or leg weakness on one side of the body, or confusion with right and left sides are linked to a tumor in the frontal or parietal lobe.
- Inability to look upwards can be caused by a pineal gland tumor.
- Lactation, alteration in the menstrual period and growth in hands and feet are associated to a pituitary tumor.
- Difficulty in swallowing, facial weakness or numbness, and double vision are symptoms of a tumor in the brain stem.
- Vision changes including partial loss and/or double vision can be caused by a tumor in the temporal or occipital lobe, or in the brain stem.
