The brain and spinal cord make up the central nervous system, which controls everything the body does — from movement and sensation to thinking and memory. They are surrounded by several layers of protective tissue and bathed in a fluid that cushions them. When tissue is removed from the brain or spinal cord, a pathologist examines it under a microscope and describes what they see in your pathology report.
This page brings together our guides to tumors of the brain and spinal cord. Unlike tumors in many other parts of the body, these are usually not described simply as benign or cancerous. Instead, each tumor is given a grade from 1 to 4 that reflects how quickly it is likely to grow. On this page, the articles are grouped by the cell or tissue type the tumor develops from, which is the main way these tumors are classified. Select any article below to learn more.
Gliomas
Gliomas are tumors that develop from glial cells, the supportive cells of the brain and spinal cord. They range from slow-growing, lower-grade tumors to fast-growing, higher-grade tumors. The articles explain how each type is diagnosed and what your pathology report describes.
Glioblastoma, IDH-wildtype, is the most common fast-growing brain tumor in adults. It is a grade 4 glioma. This article explains how it is diagnosed and what the details in your pathology report mean.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions glioblastoma, a grade 4 glioma, or IDH-wildtype testing.
Astrocytoma, IDH-mutant, is a glioma that develops from cells called astrocytes and carries a change in the IDH gene. This article explains how it is diagnosed, how it is graded, and what your report describes.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions an IDH-mutant astrocytoma or a grade 2, 3, or 4 astrocytoma.
Oligodendroglioma is a slow-growing glioma defined by a change in the IDH gene together with the loss of parts of two chromosomes (called 1p/19q codeletion). This article explains what this diagnosis means.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions oligodendroglioma, IDH mutation, or 1p/19q codeletion.
Pilocytic astrocytoma is a slow-growing, grade 1 glioma that is most common in children and young adults. It can often be cured with surgery. This article explains what this diagnosis means.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions a pilocytic astrocytoma or a grade 1 glioma.
Ependymomas
Ependymomas develop from ependymal cells, which line the fluid-filled spaces of the brain and spinal cord. The type is partly based on where in the nervous system the tumor is found. The articles explain how each type is diagnosed and what your pathology report describes.
A supratentorial ependymoma is an ependymoma that develops in the upper part of the brain. This article explains how it is diagnosed and what your pathology report describes.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions a supratentorial ependymoma, or an ependymoma in the upper part of the brain.
A posterior fossa ependymoma is an ependymoma that develops in the lower, back part of the brain. This article explains how it is diagnosed and what your pathology report describes.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions a posterior fossa ependymoma, or an ependymoma near the base of the brain.
A spinal cord ependymoma is an ependymoma that develops in the spinal cord. This article explains how it is diagnosed and what your pathology report describes.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions a spinal cord ependymoma.
A myxopapillary ependymoma is a type of ependymoma that develops in the lower part of the spinal cord. It is usually slow-growing. This article explains what this diagnosis means.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions a myxopapillary ependymoma, or an ependymoma in the lower spine.
Meningiomas
Meningiomas develop from the meninges, the layers of tissue that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord. Most meningiomas are slow-growing, but some grow more quickly. The articles explain how each type is diagnosed and what your pathology report describes.
Meningioma is the most common tumor that forms in the coverings of the brain and spinal cord. Most are slow-growing. This article gives an overview of the diagnosis, including how meningiomas are graded.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions a meningioma, or you want a general overview before reading about a specific grade.
An atypical meningioma is a grade 2 meningioma. It grows somewhat faster than a grade 1 meningioma and is more likely to come back after treatment. This article explains what this diagnosis means.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions an atypical meningioma or a grade 2 meningioma.
An anaplastic meningioma is a grade 3 meningioma. It is the fastest-growing type and is treated as a cancer. This article explains what this diagnosis means and what your report describes.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions an anaplastic or malignant meningioma, or a grade 3 meningioma.
Other tumors
These tumors of the brain and nearby structures develop from other types of cells. The articles explain how each type is diagnosed and what your pathology report describes.
A pituitary adenoma is a usually noncancerous tumor of the pituitary gland, a small hormone-making gland at the base of the brain. This article explains what this diagnosis means and how it is treated.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions a pituitary adenoma or a pituitary neuroendocrine tumor (PitNET).
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