MRI has become a valuable test in diagnosing, localizing and even treating brain tumors. CT scan, which uses x-ray to create a picture of the brain, is also a valuable tool in diagnosing and treating brain tumors. The treatment of brain tumors is highly dependent on the type of tumor, where the tumor is located, the size of the tumor, the patient s age and overall health. The approach to treating brain tumors is to reduce the tumor as much as possible without causing harm to the normal brain. Surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and investigational techniques are used in the treatment of brain tumors.
Surgery is usually the first step in treating most brain tumors.
The surgery can be a biopsy to determine which brain tumor is present or can be used to reduce the size of the tumor and in some cases, cure the patient of the brain tumor. There are some tumors, such as brainstem tumors, for which surgery is not an option. The goal with surgery is to reduce the size of the tumor without harming the surrounding normal brain. However, surgery is infrequently a curative procedure. Radiation and chemotherapy serve as additional therapies in treating brain tumors.