Adenocarcinoma
Definition
Adenocarcinoma is a category of cancers that originate in the glandular tissue that lines organs such as the lungs, breasts, and colon. It is the most common form of colon cancer and also the most common form of lung cancer. A very rare form of adenocarcinoma called adenoid cystic carcinoma may originate in the sinonasal mucosa and invade the skull base often invading the brain, but in most cases adenocarcinoma found in the brain is the result of metastasis from a distant site.
Causes
The most common origin of adenocarcinoma that spreads to the brain is the lung. The following can cause damage to the cells in the lungs and lead to lung cancer:
- first- or second-hand cigarette, cigar, or pipe smoke
- asbestos (a group of minerals that occur naturally as fibers and are used in certain industries)
- radon (an invisible, odorless, and tasteless radioactive gas in soil and rocks)
Risk Factors
Risk factors for lung cancer include:
- cigarette smoking
- cigar and pipe smoking
- exposure to second-hand smoke, also called environmental tobacco smoke (the smoke in the air when someone else smokes)
- exposure to radon
- exposure to asbestos
- lung diseases, such as tuberculosis (TB)
- personal history of lung cancer
- exposure to certain air pollutants, such as by-products of the combustion of diesel and other fossil fuels, are linked to lung cancer, although the relationship is not yet clear
- coal dust
Symptoms
The symptoms of an intracranial tumor depend on where it is located in the brain.
Symptoms may include:
headache — the vast majority of headaches are not caused by brain tumors. Headaches associated with brain tumors tend to have the following features:
- progressively worse over a period of weeks to months
- worse in the morning or cause you to wake during the night
- different than a normal headache
- worsens with change of posture, straining, or coughing
- seizures
- nausea or vomiting
- weakness in arms and/or legs
- loss of sensation in arms and/or legs
- difficulty walking
- vision changes
- speech problems
- drowsiness
- memory problems
- personality changes
Diagnosis
Adenocarcinoma that has metastasized to the brain can be identified by imaging studies such as MRI or CT scans.
Treatment
Treatment depends upon the location of the tumor in the brain, the extent of spread, and the condition of the patient. Treatment may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or surgical resection (removal) of the tumor.
Adenocarcinomas of the skull base can be directly approached through the expanded endonasal approach (EEA). This state-of-the-art, minimally invasive surgical procedure uses the nose as a natural corridor to reach these lesions. There are no incisions in the skin of the face or head. After an endoscopic endonasal resection of the tumor, patients do not need to wait several weeks to heal from the surgery before any radiotherapy is performed. Patients can receive radiation treatment sooner when indicated.
Prevention
The risk of adenocarcinoma can be reduced by avoiding exposure to cigarette smoke, radon gas, and asbestos.