Brain Tumors: Primary - Prognosis

Symptoms

Brain tumors produce a variety of symptoms, ranging from headache to seizure. They are great mimics of other neurologic disorders. Symptoms occur if the tumor directly damages the nerves in the brain or central nervous system, or if its growth imposes pressure on the brain. Symptoms may be subtle and gradually become worse, or they may occur very rapidly.

Headache

Headache is probably the most common symptom of a brain tumor. However, headaches are very common. Brain tumors do not cause the vast majority of headaches. [For more information on headaches, see In-Depth Reports #97: Migraine headache; #11: Tension headache; and #99: Cluster headache.]

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Headaches caused by brain tumors vary depending on the location and many other factors. Headache symptoms that may be associated with brain tumors include:

• Steady and worse headache that occurs upon waking in the morning, then clears up within a few hours
• Persistent non-migraine headache that occurs while sleeping and is also accompanied by at least one other symptom (such as vomiting or confusion)
• Headache that may or may not be throbbing
• Headache accompanied by double vision, weakness, or numbness
• Headache that may worsen with coughing or exercise or with a change in body position

Gastrointestinal Symptoms

Gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea and vomiting, are also common.

Seizures

About half of patients with brain tumors have a seizure. It is a common symptom of brain tumors in older adults. (However, fewer than 10% of first seizures are caused by a brain tumor.)

• Tumors are more likely to be localized and affect one area of the brain. If so, they can cause partial seizures. In this case, a person does not lose consciousness but may have confusion, jerking movements, tingling, or odd mental and emotional events.
• Generalized seizures, which can cause loss of consciousness, are less common, since they are caused by disturbances of nerve cells in diffuse areas of the brain.

Mental Changes

Sometimes the only symptoms of brain tumors are mental changes, which may include:

• Memory loss
• Impaired concentration
• Problems with reasoning
• Changes in personality and behavior
• Increased sleep

Other Significant Symptoms

• Gradual loss of movement or sensation in an arm or leg
• Unsteadiness and problems with balance
• Unexpected visual disturbance (especially if it is associated with headache), including vision loss (usually of peripheral vision) in one or both eyes or double vision
• Hearing loss with or without dizziness
• Speech difficulty

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).