Aetiology

Risk factors

• Inherited syndromes with an increased risk of brain tumours include neurofibromatosis, von Hippel-Lindau disease, tuberous sclerosis and Li-Fraumeni syndrome
• Ionising radiation
• Immunosuppression

Pathophysiology

Aetiology of tumour headache

• Raised ICP
• Invasion/compression of dura, BVs, periosteum
• Secondary to diplopia (CN III, IV, VI; INO)
• Secondary to difficulty focusing
• Extreme hypertension
• Psychogenic (stress of loss of functional capacity)

Neurological signs correlate to tumour location

Histological types

• High-grade:
  • Gliomas and glioblastoma multiforme
  • Primary cerebral lymphomas
  • Medulloblastomas
• Low-grade:
  • Meningiomas
  • Acoustic neuromas
  • Pituiary tumours
  • Pineal tumours
  • Craniopharyngiomas
  • Neurofibromas

Clinical features