Epidemiology Of Brain And Spinal Tumors

Epidemiology of Brain and Spinal Tumors provides a single volume resource on imaging methods and neuroepidemiology of both brain and spinal tumors. The book covers a variety of imaging techniques, including computed tomography (CT), MRI, positron emission tomography (PET), and other laboratory tests used in diagnosis and treatment. Detailed epidemiology, various imaging methods, and clinical considerations of tumors of the CNS make this an ideal reference for users who will also find diverse information about structures and functions, cytology, epidemiology (including molecular epidemiology), diagnosis and treatment. This book is appropriate for neuroscience researchers, medical professionals and anyone interested in a complete guide to visualizing and understanding CNS tumors. Provides the most up-to-date information surrounding the epidemiology, biology and imaging techniques for brain and spinal tumors, including CT, MRI, PET, and others Includes full color figures, photos, tables, graphs and radioimaging Contains information that will be valuable to anyone interested in the field of neurooncology and the treatment of patients with brain and spinal tumors Serves as a source of background information for basic scientists and pharmaceutical researchers who have an interest in imaging and treatment

Tumors of the Brain and Spine focuses primarily on approaches to the treatment of benign, primary low-grade to high-grade, and metastatic tumors in the brain and spine, as practiced by surgeons and clinicians at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. The book is written mainly for the primary care oncologist, general neurologist, and general neurosurgeon. Discussion of treatment coverage focuses on neurosurgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, singly and in combination. Also included are chapters on symptom management, molecular genetics and neuropathology of intracranial tumors, leptomeningeal dissemination of systemic cancer, epidemiology of brain tumors, and innovative treatment strategies.

This book aims to gather the current knowledge regarding different aspects of brain and spinal cord tumors in order to more efficiently help the patients. Brain tumors comprise about 5–9% of all human neoplasms; and the central nervous system (CNS) neoplasms are ranked among the most prevalent neoplasms of childhood as well. The more we know about the nature and characteristic of brain and spinal cord tumors, the more precise decision could be made for each patient, in order to reach the best outcome. While surgical resection, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy have been considered as the standards of care for benign and/or malignant CNS tumors since a long time ago, new therapeutic approaches such as immunotherapy have been recently proposed to be considered for treatment of CNS tumors, especially as in some cases, the tumors might be inoperable or the patient may not benefit from other treatment modalities after several recurrences. The second volume of the book focuses on clinical aspects of these tumors. Accordingly, the most important brain and spinal cord tumors are specifically discussed in each chapter based on a rational outlining for all chapter in this volume: Background and epidemiology, genetics, immunology and molecular biology, histopathology and morphology, imaging and radiologic features, clinical manifestations, therapeutic approaches, surgical intervention, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, new therapeutic modalities, follow-up, and prognosis. The chapters of this volume discuss the following pathologies of brain and spinal cord tumors: malignant glioma, benign glioma, meningiomas and other meningeal tumors, ependymomas, medulloblastomas, pineal tumors, choroid plexus and ventricular tumors, neuroectodermal tumors of CNS, neuroepithelial tumors of CNS, pituitary gland tumors, craniopharyngioma, schwannomas and nerve-sheet tumors, hemangioblastomas and other vascular originating tumors, brain and spinal tumors of embryonic origin, germ line cell tumors, malignant bone or cartilage-originating tumors of brain and spine, benign bone or cartilage-originating tumors of brain and spine, brain tumors affecting the orbit globe and orbit tumors affecting the brain, CNS lymphomas, metastatic lesions of the brain and spine, malignant spinal tumors, benign spinal tumors, brain and/or spinal cord tumors accompanied with other diseases or syndromes, psychological and psychiatric aspects of brain and spinal cord tumors, a brief explanation on surgical approaches for treatment of different brain tumors. This volume of book is useful for physicians of different specialties, mainly neurosurgeons, neurologists, neuropathologists, and neuroradiologists.

Brain tumors comprise about 5–9% of all human neoplasms; and interestingly the central nervous system (CNS) neoplasms are ranked among the most prevalent neoplasms of childhood as well. Besides to the morphologic and histopathologic characteristics, and as each pathologic states first starts with molecular alterations, each tumor may have its own story in the matter of activating tumorigenesis pathways and having specific molecular characteristics. Importantly, the molecular classification of tumors has been highly considered in the past few decades for taking the most appropriate therapeutic approach. On the other hand, the tumors shall have tumor-scape mechanisms preventing the immunologic system to eliminate its invasion. The failure of innate and acquired immune system to defeat tumorigenesis mechanisms would consequently result in tumor development. Interestingly, the neuro-immunologic mechanism plays a role in development of psychiatric manifestations of brain tumors as well. Taking all these to account, the different arms of innate immunity, acquired immunity, and genetics have been approached to defeat development and/or progression of such tumors. Accordingly, the activation immunotherapeutic approaches focus on activating or strengthening the anti-tumor immunologic pathways in order to assist the weakened immune system to defeat the tumor (such as Dendritic cell vaccination, DNA vaccines, peptide vaccines, viral vector-based vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, and CAR T-cell therapy). In addition to immunologic components of brain and spinal cord tumors, numerous genes and genetic pathways have been recognized to take part in tumorigenesis. Taking these non-immune genetic pathways to account, some other therapeutic approaches such as stem cell therapy and gene therapy have been developed in the new era of cancer treatment. Moreover, and besides the biologic and medical aspects of these tumors, different physical/mathematical models have been proposed to either explain or predict tumor behavior. Such models would be advantageous in developing new therapeutic modalities in pre-clinical stages and enter new eras in cancer treatment. The first book of Human Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors, Neuro-immunology and Neuro-genetics, will mainly discuss the neuro-immunology and neurogenetic pathways associated with development of brain and spinal cord tumor. After a short introduction chapter, this book will focus on the role of innate and acquired immunity on development of these tumors and then the immunotherapeutic approaches to defeat these tumorigenesis mechanisms. This book will then focus on genetic aspects of brain and spinal cord tumors and bioinformatics models to describe the behavioral patterns of these tumors, as well as associated therapeutic approaches such as stem cell therapy and gene therapy. This volume of book could be useful for experts in basic sciences, mainly geneticists and immunologists, and also physicians of different specialties, mainly neurosurgeons, neurologists, neuropathologists and neuroradiologists.

Numerous new concepts and procedures are reviewed and discussed in this book and allude to the transport of drugs to the brain. New radiation concepts are also presented, plus management of toxicities associated with both treatment modalities. It is the goal of this book to provide information and data that will be useful for both researchers and practitioners to develop new approaches for the management of CNS malignancies.

Since the late 1960s, the survival rate in children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer has steadily improved, with a corresponding decline in the cancer-specific death rate. Although the improvements in survival are encouraging, they have come at the cost of acute, chronic, and late adverse effects precipitated by the toxicities associated with the individual or combined use of different types of treatment (e.g., surgery, radiation, chemotherapy). In some cases, the impairments resulting from cancer and its treatment are severe enough to qualify a child for U.S. Social Security Administration disability benefits. At the request of Social Security Administration, Childhood Cancer and Functional Impacts Across the Care Continuum provides current information and findings and conclusions regarding the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of selected childhood cancers, including different types of malignant solid tumors, and the effect of those cancers on childrenâ (TM)s health and functional capacity, including the relative levels of functional limitation typically associated with the cancers and their treatment. This report also provides a summary of selected treatments currently being studied in clinical trials and identifies any limitations on the availability of these treatments, such as whether treatments are available only in certain geographic areas.

Children with brain and spinal tumors account for 20-25% of childhood cancers. Until the early 1990s there had been little progress in the development of new treatments, and outcomes were not improving despite advances seen in other childhood cancers. During the past 10 years, however, there has been a dramatic increase in interest in the subject among pediatric specialists worldwide, and new multi-disciplinary teams have become established. There are encouraging early signs of improvement in outcomes, and more are anticipated. The appearance of this comprehensive, but practical, evidence-based review of brain and spinal tumors in children is therefore very timely. The content includes detailed coverage of the diagnosis, clinical management, after care and monitoring, and underlying biology of brain and spinal tumors in children. International in approach, it draws on the experience of the European Childhood Brain Tumour Committee, linked to the International Society of Paediatric Oncology, and various multi-centre clinical trials to reflect the various approaches to management that have arisen around the world.

This book provides evidence-based management in neuro-oncology covering all aspects such as pathology, radiology, surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.The field of neuro-oncology is rapidly evolving and new evidence is coming out every day towards the optimal management of brain tumors. This necessitates a requirement of a complete guide that shall provide an evidence-based and personalized approach towards dealing with patients. This book also covers recent advances in personalized treatment formed through the relevant basis of anatomy, imaging, radiology, surgical, radiation and systemic treatment of brain and spinal tumors. In addition it also covers the , practical aspects of the planning of the Gamma knife and other radio surgical aspects. The book shall provide valuable assistance to practicing neuro-oncologists to practice better evidence-based personalized medicine.