It is also the control center for the pituitary gland. The medulla oblongata, a part of the brain stem, controls swallowing, tongue movement, breathing, heart beat, and vomiting. See Brain Stem Tumor. This type of tumor usually causes symptoms by pressure and compression rather than by growth into brain tissue. Seizures are common.
Additional symptoms depend on the location of the tumor.
Headache, nausea and vomiting are common due to the swelling that frequently accompanies these tumors. If the tumor is in the spine, pain might occur directly over the area of metastasis or radiate along the affected nerve. The midbrain, a part of the brain stem, is a relay center for sight and hearing. Symptoms associated with this tumor usually involve the eye, such as eye movement disorders with double vision and abnormal pupil reactions. See Brain Stem Tumor.