Other effects may include a gradual and progressive weakness of one side of the body or sensory symptoms such as tingling affecting one half of the body. When these tumours arise in the brainstem at the base of the skull, they frequently produce double vision, weakness of one half of the face or unsteadiness while walking. Meningiomas Meningiomas are benign tumours and are usually very slow growing. They may attain considerable size before they cause any noticeable symptoms. The symptoms they produce are just as diverse as those of gliomas and may also include personality changes, gradual loss of vision in one eye, double vision and occasionally headaches.
Most pituitary tumours are benign.
They may produce some loss of vision, which is frequently not noticed by the patient. Other effects are often due to hormones produced by the tumour. These effects may include secretion of milk from the nipples, infertility, increase in size of hands and feet with overgrowth of the lower jaw or high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes, depending on which hormones are being produced in excess. Anyone who has symptoms that suggest a brain tumour will be referred by their doctor to see a specialist for further investigation. Unfortunately, many of the symptoms that occur with a brain tumour may also occur in a variety of other harmless conditions.