Brain and Skull Base Tumors

On this page: Overview | Types | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment | Resources

What is a Brain Tumor?

The term brain tumor encompasses growths that are both benign (non-cancerous) and malignant (cancerous) originating from brain cells, tissues, and structures. Skull base tumors arise in the bony structures and coverings of the brain.

Facts About Brain Tumors

• An estimated 700,000 Americans are living with a primary brain tumor
• Approximately 70% of all brain tumors are benign
• Approximately 30% of all brain tumors are malignant
• Approximately 58% of all brain tumors occur in females
• Approximately 42% of all brain tumors occur in males
• An estimated 84,170 people will receive a primary brain tumor diagnosis in 2021

Reference: https://braintumor.org/brain-tumor-information/brain-tumor-facts/

Types of Brain Tumors

Brain tumors are usually classified into primary brain tumors (which include skull base tumors and pituitary tumors) and secondary (metastatic) brain tumors. Metastatic brain tumors arise from a cancer from elsewhere in the body. Skull base tumors may be primary (arising in that specific location) or metastatic in origin (arising from a cancer elsewhere).

Primary brain tumors

Primary brain tumors comprise a wide spectrum of benign and malignant neoplasms that may arise from:

• The coverings of the brain (meningiomas, epidermoid and arachnoid cysts)
• The brain itself (gliomas, astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas, pineal tumors, lymphoma, hemangioblastoma)
• The nerves that exit the brain (schwannomas, neurofibromas), from the pituitary gland and related structures (pituitary adenomas, craniopharyngiomas, Rathke’s cleft cysts)
• The skull base (meningiomas, chordomas, schwannomas, olfactory neuroblastomas, sinus tumors)

It is estimated that there are at least 60,000 primary brain tumors diagnosed annually in the United States.

Metastatic brain tumors

Secondary brain tumors or metastatic brain tumors that arise from cancers elsewhere in the body are unfortunately common. They most often are seen in patients with cancers of the lung, breast, melanoma, colon, kidney and thyroid.

It is estimated that at least 10-30% of cancer patients develop brain metastases. In total, it is estimated that approximately 200,000 patients per year are diagnosed with metastatic brain tumors in the United States, most of which come from tumors arising.