Brain Tumors: Primary - Causes

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Specific Effects of Tumors on Function

The specific effects of tumors on the brain can cause seizures, mental changes, and mood, personality, and emotional changes. Tumors may also impair muscle usage in certain body areas, hearing, vision, speech, and other neurologic complications. Such effects can be devastating to the patient and the caregivers. Numerous treatments are available that can help alleviate these complications. Patients and family members should discuss these options with their doctors.

Effects in Children. Advancements in treatment have dramatically increased survival rates for children with brain tumors. About 75% of children survive at least 5 years after being diagnosed with a brain tumor. Unfortunately, many childhood brain tumor survivors are at risk for long-term neurological complications.

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Children younger than age 7 (and particularly those younger than age 3 years) appear to have the greatest risk for cognitive problems. These problems may result from the tumor and from treatment (cranial radiation therapy, chemotherapy that penetrates the blood-brain barrier). Long-term cognitive problems include difficulties with attention and concentration, memory, mental processing of information, visual perception skills, and problems with planning, insight, initiative, and organizational competencies. Parents need to make sure that children receive appropriate supportive services and educational accommodation at their schools.

Review Date: 10/21/2010
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).