Abnormally growing cells in and around the brain tissue cause brain tumours. The tumour cells grow uncontrollably, impacting the brain functions. According to a study, more than 150 types of brain tumours have been identified.
Dr Jenil Gurnani, a consultant neurosurgeon at Gurnaani’s Brain and Spine Centre, Gujarat, says brain tumours can be benign or malignant based on their growth, activity, and origin. A benign tumour also called a primary brain tumour, can originate in any region of the brain. Whereas malignant or secondary brain tumours are more aggressive and occur when cancerous cells from other parts of the body spread to the brain.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) grades brain tumours into 4 types based on histological (group of cells) features observed under the microscope, such as most malignant, widely spreading, rapidly growing, and prone to aggressive tissue death and rapid recurrence.
The infographic below explains the grades of tumours based on the WHO grading.
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