health

Headaches are the single most common symptom of brain tumors
in older children and adults, and the one most likely to bring
patients to see their doctor—particularly if the headaches are unusually
severe or more frequent than those that the person has experienced
in the past.

Diagnosing a brain tumor requires a series of tests and examinations.

• A family doctor will usually refer the patient to a neurologist, a
  doctor who specializes in treating disorders of the nervous system.
  The neurologist will check the patient’s balance, vision, hearing,
  reflexes, coordination, ability to speak clearly, changes in mood,
  and ability to answer simple questions. These tests help to locate
  the areas of the brain that might be affected by a tumor.
• Imaging tests. These include computed tomography (CT) scans,
  magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography
  (PET).
• Electroencephalogram (EEG). This is a test that shows the levels of
  electrical activity in different parts of the brain.
• Blood and urine tests. These are used to monitor the patient’s
  response to treatment for the tumor.
• Tests for cancer in other organs, since most brain cancers are metastatic
  rather than primary tumors.
• Biopsy. A biopsy is a procedure in which a sample of tissue is
  removed for study under a microscope. For a brain tumor, the
  biopsy may be done as part of an operation to remove the tumor
  or as a separate procedure.