What Is the Prognosis of a Benign Brain Tumor?
Benign brain tumors generally carry a good prognosis as they are unlikely to spread. The five-year survival rates for meningioma, the most common benign brain tumor, and low-grade astrocytoma are 67 to 92 and 21 to 65 percent, respectively, depending on the age of the patient, states the American Cancer Society.
A benign brain tumor is a growth that originates in the brain but does not invade the surrounding tissues and is not considered cancerous, says WebMD. A benign brain tumor is not as deadly as a malignant tumor but is still a very serious medical issue as the tumor can grow and put pressure on other parts of the brain, explains MedicineNet. This can result in neurological symptoms such as headaches; vision problems; loss of feeling in an arm or leg; seizures; or even death. In general, the older a patient at the time of diagnosis, the worse his prognosis, according to statistics gathered by the American Cancer Society.
Benign brain tumors are generally treated with surgical resection of the tumor, notes the United Kingdom’s National Health Services. If a tumor is inoperable, or if surgery cannot remove the entire tumor, then radiation treatment and chemotherapy may also be used.
