Introduction Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2), and schwannomatosis (SWN) are rare tumor suppressor conditions with estimated incidences of 1:3,000, 1:60,000, and 1:100,000, respectively. Although all three conditions…
Introduction Perineural invasion (PNI) refers to a rare type of contiguous spread of neoplastic cells from their primary site along the potential space between or beneath the layers of perineurium….
Introduction Paraneoplastic neurological disorder (PND) syndromes are immune-mediated disorders that affect the central, peripheral, or autonomic nervous system in the setting of a cancer. These disorders are not caused by…
Introduction to medical complications of brain tumors Patients with brain tumors are at risk of many complications from their cancer. Complications may result from direct effects of the tumor itself…
Introduction Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant neurocutaneous condition characterized by a predisposition to hamartomas in the brain, heart, kidney, skin, eye, and other organs. TSC is the…
Introduction Although neurofibromatosis and tuberous sclerosis comprise some of the most common inherited tumor syndromes in neuro-oncology, clinicians will encounter patients with other, less common syndromes who could present with…
Introduction Leptomeningeal spread occurs in both solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. Leptomeningeal disease (LMD) for all primary cancer types portends a very poor prognosis, with survival measured in weeks if…
Introduction Brain metastases are a frequent occurrence in patients with solid malignancies. Up to 40% of patients with solid tumors will develop brain metastases at some point in their disease…
Introduction The broad definition of high-grade glioma encompasses all central nervous system neoplasms that are derived from glial components of the brain and show anaplasia (i.e., poor cellular differentiation, atypia,…
Introduction Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is defined as lymphoma confined to the central nervous system (CNS) at presentation. By contrast, secondary CNS lymphoma represents a systemic lymphoma (i.e.,…
