Three thin membranes, called meninges, cover the entire brain and spinal cord forming a thin protective layer. CSF is produced in four hollow spaces in the brain, called ventricles, and flows through the ventricles and in the spaces between the meninges. It also brings nutrients from the blood to the brain and removes waste products from the brain. The bony structures of the skull and vertebra provide the final layer of protection for the central nervous system. Cancer of the Brain and Spinal Cord Cancer can occur in any part of the brain or spinal cord.
Cancer cells are abnormal cells that divide too often and without any order.
The causes of central nervous system tumors are not known, and scientists cannot explain why brain tumors develop in healthy adults. Certain factors, however, have been identified that may increase a person's chance of developing a brain tumor. For example, workers in the oil refining, rubber manufacturing, and drug manufacturing industries have higher rates of certain types of brain tumors. Researchers are also studying families in whom multiple members have developed the same type of brain tumor to see whether heredity plays a role. They are also looking at the connection between viral infections and exposure to radiation and the development of brain tumors.