Brain Tumor Disorders: Definition, History, and Further Reading
Introduction
Brain tumors are abnormal growths of cells in the brain or central nervous system. These tumors can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). When a tumor is malignant, it can spread to other parts of the body and cause serious health complications. Brain tumor disorders are a leading cause of death and disability in adults and children of all ages.
Definition
Brain tumor disorders are a group of diseases characterized by the presence of abnormal growths of cells in the brain or Central Nervous System (CNS). The severity of the disorder varies depending on the size, location, type, and stage of the tumor. Brain tumors can be classified as primary or metastatic. Primary brain tumors are tumors that originate in the brain, while metastatic brain tumors are tumors that spread from other parts of the body, such as the lungs or breast.
History
Brain tumors have been documented since the 1700s. In the 1800s, physicians began to recognize the symptoms of brain tumors and started to document how they could affect a person’s health. In the early 1900s, researchers developed imaging techniques, such as X-rays, to help diagnose brain tumors. In the late 1900s, doctors started using more sophisticated imaging techniques, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computerized Tomography (CT) scans, to diagnose brain tumors.
Further Reading
Kurian, K. M., Rao, G. N., & Nair, M. K. (2018). Brain tumors: Diagnosis, management, and long-term outcomes. Neurotherapeutics, 15(4), 813–826. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13311-018-0664-2
Nguyen, H. D., Strosberg, J. R., & Salem, R. (2015). Recent advances in brain tumor therapy: A review. Neurotherapeutics, 12(3), 541–553. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13311-015-0344-z
Reardon, D. A., & Desjardins, A. (2018). Advances in brain tumor therapy. Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology, 15(4), 205–218. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrclinonc.2017.236
Riccardi, D., & Magrassi, L. (2013). Brain tumors: Epidemiology, etiology, genetics, and clinical management. Cancers, 5(4), 1720–1744. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers5041720
Conclusion
Brain tumor disorders are a group of diseases characterized by the presence of abnormal growths of cells in the brain or Central Nervous System (CNS). The severity of the disorder varies depending on the size, location, type, and stage of the tumor. Brain tumor disorders have been documented since the 1700s and have been studied extensively. Thanks to advances in imaging techniques, doctors are now able to diagnose brain tumors more accurately and develop more effective treatments.