Understanding Types Of Brain Tumour : Benign Vs. Malignant

Understanding Types Of Brain Tumour : Benign Vs. Malignant

Being diagnosed with a brain tumour is a life-changing moment. You might feel overwhelmed or in shock, and it will take time for you to adjust to the situation. It’s natural to feel uneasy about hospitals, but your medical team will do everything they can to help you feel confident and well-informed about the next steps.

Your first point of contact will be your clinical nurse specialist. They will be able to answer any questions you may have, and will help to explain complex medical terms in plain language. Your neurosurgeon or oncologist might have described your brain tumour as “benign” or “malignant”. Here’s a closer look at what these terms mean.

What is a brain tumour?

A brain tumour is an abnormal growth of cells inside the brain (or sometimes close to the brain). Normally, cells grow, divide, and die in a controlled way. A tumour develops when this process goes wrong and cells grow when they shouldn’t.

Brain tumours can start in the brain itself (known as primary brain tumours) or spread from another part of the body (secondary brain tumours, also called metastases).

Benign vs malignant: the key difference

The words benign and malignant describe how a tumour behaves, not just what it looks like.

Benign tumours

• Non-cancerous –  the cells don’t spread to other parts of the brain or body.
• Usually grow more slowly.
• Can still cause problems, because the brain is enclosed inside the skull. Even a slow-growing mass can press on important brain areas and cause symptoms.
• Examples include meningiomas, acoustic neuromas, and some pituitary adenomas.

Malignant tumours

• Cancerous – the cells can grow quickly and invade surrounding brain tissue.
• More likely to come back after treatment.
• May spread to other parts of the brain or spinal cord, but rarely outside the nervous system.
• Examples include glioblastomas and some astrocytomas.

It’s important to understand that even a benign tumour in the wrong place can be dangerous and might require urgent treatment, while some malignant tumours might be small and treatable if caught early.

Why location often matters more than size or type of tumour

Even a small growth can press on critical areas that control speech, movement, vision, or personality. This is why doctors often focus as much on where the tumour is as they do on whether it’s benign or malignant.

Common symptoms of brain tumours

While symptoms vary depending on the tumour’s type and location, they can include:

• Persistent headaches (often worse in the morning)
• Nausea or vomiting
• Changes in vision or hearing
• Weakness or numbness in part of the body
• Difficulty speaking or understanding speech
• Seizures
• Changes in mood or personality

If you experience these symptoms —  especially if they are new, worsening, or unexplained —  it’s important to see a doctor promptly.

How brain tumours are diagnosed

Doctors usually start with a neurological exam and then use imaging tests such as:

• MRI scans (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) for detailed brain pictures
• CT scans for a quicker overview
• In some cases, a biopsy (taking a small tissue sample) is needed to confirm if the tumour is benign or malignant.

Treatment options

Treatment depends on several factors: the tumour’s type, size, location, and whether it’s benign or malignant.

Traditional brain surgery

Known as craniotomy, this involves physically removing as much of the tumour as possible. It’s often the first choice for large or fast growing accessible tumours causing disruptive symptoms.

Radiation therapy

This involves using high-energy beams to target tumour cells. It is useful for tumours that can’t be fully removed or for malignant types that may return.

Gamma Knife surgery

Despite the name, Gamma Knife surgery involves no knives at all. It’s a form of stereotactic radiosurgery —  a highly precise type of radiation treatment that focuses multiple beams of gamma rays on the tumour.

Key benefits:

• No incisions –  treatment is done without opening the skull.
• High accuracy –  the surrounding healthy brain tissue is spared as much as possible.
• One-day procedure –  most patients go home the same day.

It may be considered suitable for smaller benign tumours (such as acoustic neuromas or pituitary adenomas) and certain malignant tumours or brain metastases. This technique is especially valuable for tumours in areas that are difficult or risky to reach with traditional surgery.

Chemotherapy

Cancer-fighting drugs may be used for certain malignant brain tumours, often alongside other treatments.

Benign and malignant brain tumours differ in how they grow and behave, but both can affect health and quality of life depending on their location. Understanding these terms and the treatment options available, from traditional surgery to non-invasive methods, can replace some of the fear with knowledge.

If you would like more information about Gamma Knife surgery, please contact our team today.

Centres of Excellence for Stereotactic Radiosurgery treatment of complex Brain Tumours