Brain tumor

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Assosciate editor(s)-In-Chief Prashanthsaddala

Risk Factors
The cause of primary brain tumors is unknown. There are many possible risk factors that could play a role.


 * Radiation therapy to the brain, used to treat brain cancers, increases the risk for brain tumors up to 20 or 30 years afterwards.
 * Exposure to radiation at work or to power lines, as well as head injuries, smoking, and hormone replacement therapy have NOT been proven to be risk factors.
 * The risk of using cell phones is hotly debated. However, most recent studies have found that cell phones, cordless phones, and wireless devices are safe and do not increase the risk.
 * Some inherited conditions increase the risk of brain tumors, including neurofibromatosis, Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, and Turcot syndrome.
 * Lymphomas that begin in the brain in people with a weakened immune system are sometimes linked to the Epstein-Barr virus.
 * Exposure to some chemicals. These chemicals are formaldehyde used by pathologists and embalmers. Vinyl chloride used in the manufacturing of plastics and acrylonitrile used in the manufacturing of textile and plastics.
 * A family history of brain cancer slightly increases the chance of developing brain cancer

Diagnosis
History and Symptoms | Physical Examination | Staging | Laboratory tests | Electrocardiogram | X Rays | CT | MRI | Biopsy | Echocardiography or Ultrasound | Other images | Alternative diagnostics

Treatment
Medical therapy | Radiation therapy | Surgical options | Primary prevention | Secondary prevention | Financial costs | Future therapies

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