CNS Tumors

Leaver: Ch.30 (not finished)

Why can benign CNS tumors be fatal despite being non-malignant

it takes up space in the brain, compression vital brain structures

Which vertebra does the spinal cord end?

L2-L3

what are functions of the cerebrum

thinking, language, memory, learning, emotion

what are functions of the cerebellum

interprets signals the senses: touch, sight, sound, language and reasoning

what is the function of the brainstem

regulates automatic functions: sleep, breathing, body temp, digestion, cough, sneeze

what is the function of the spinal cord

coordinate reflexes, mobility and sensation

what is the purpose of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF)

protects brain and spinal cord from shock → provides a mechanical barrier

what part of the brain creates cerebrospinal fluid

choroid plexus

True or false: side effects can occur if CSF is not circulating/blocked

True: nausea vomiting, dizzy

what is the function of the Blood Brain Barrier

It separates the blood from the brain’s extracellular fluids, filters the blood from substances that may damage it, and transports vital materials for brains function

define epidemiology

factors associated to the cause of the disease

define etiology

study of the cause of disease

True or False: the occurrence of CNS tumours in the brain is 80 %

true

True or False: the occurence of spinal cord tumors is 40%

False: occurence of spinal cord tumor is 20%

At what age do most CNS tumors occur in people

People aged between 50 and 80 years old

what is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in children aged 3 to 12

CNS tumors

define etiology

its the study of the cause of cancer

what are some etiological factors regarding CNS tumors

• health status: AIDS, viral infections

• occupational and environmental exposure: chemicals, radiation exposure, EM fields, pesticides, synthetic rubber

• lifestyle and dietary factors: smoking, nitrates from deli meats, hair dyes

• genetics: Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (disease that increases the risk of a person developping multiple cancers), Turcot syndrome (disease tha increases the presence of polyps in the intestine, brain or spinal cord), neurofibromatosis (disease that causes tumors to grow in nerve tissue)

True or false: etiological factors regarding brain tumors are primarily unknown

True

what is the 5 year survival rate for CNS tumors for a person

35% chcance over the past 20 years

what are the 3 important prognostic factors for CNS tumors

1. age

2. Performance scale

3. tumor level (necrosis, grade, location)

Define KPS and ECOG

KPS and ECOG → measure a person’s ability to perform everyday tasks

Karnofsky performance scale (KPS): ranges from 100 (normal) to 0 (dead)

Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG): ranges from 0 (normal) to 5 (dead)

what is a late effect of treatment after CNS treatment in children

After radiotherapy, some children may experience a decrease in IQ and impaired mental functions

what is a long term side effect of treatment after CNS treatment in children

emotional distress

which tumors tend to spread to the cerebral spinal fluid

medullablastoma

high grade posterior fossa ependymoma

CNS tumors with mets

What key clinical change should be evaluated when investigating a patient for a suspected central nervous system (CNS) tumor?

behaviour and personality changes

define histopathology

the study of changes in the tissue caused by diseases

what is l'hermitte syndrome

a condidtion where a person feels electric shock sensations travelling down the spine and neck

what is scelosis

a condition where there’s an abnormal hardening or stiffening of the tissue in the body either caused by infections, chronic diseases or overgrowth of fibrous scar tissue