​Adenocarcinoma

Adenocarcinoma Symptoms and Diagnosis

The symptoms of adenocarcinoma depend on the tumor’s location, as different regions of the brain affects different parts of the body. Metastatic adenocarcinoma of the brain can trigger changes in the nervous system and cause changes in eye sight or problems walking and speaking, for example.

Diagnosing adenocarcinoma

To help diagnose adenocarcinoma in the brain or skull base, your doctor will order imaging studies such as MRI or CT scans. Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms.

Symptoms of adenocarcinoma in the brain or skull base

Adenocarcinoma symptoms may include:

• Headaches/seizures
• Nausea or vomiting
• Weakness or loss of sensation in the arms and/or legs
• Speech, vision, or memory problems
• Personality changes

Adenocarcinoma Treatments

For treating adenocarcinoma in the brain, our neurosurgical team may recommend a combination of surgical and radiosurgical approaches to maximize benefits while minimizing risks.

Minimally invasive surgery

The Endoscopic Endonasal Approach (EEA) gives surgeons a direct approach to an adenocarcinoma of the skull base. Surgeons can see the tumor well without making incisions to the face or skull, and remove the tumor through the nose and nasal cavities.

The benefits of EEA over traditional, open brain surgery include:

• No incisions to heal
• No disfigurement
• Faster recovery time

Neuroendoport® surgery offers a minimally invasive treatment option for deep-seated tumors within the ventricles (fluid spaces) or substance of the brain.

A narrow tube or port allows doctors to access tumors such as adenocarcinoma through a tiny incision in the skull — in contrast to traditional brain surgery.

Gamma Knife^® radiosurgery for adenocarcinoma

Gamma Knife radiosurgery is a painless treatment procedure that uses hundreds of highly focused radiation beams to target tumors and lesions within the brain, with no surgical incision.

UPMC doctors have experience treating thousands of people with adenocarcinoma using Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery, establishing this technology as a preferred primary treatment for many patients.

UPMC neurosurgeons may also perform stereotactic radiosurgery treatment using the Cyberknife and other linear-accelerator-based systems.

As the nation's leading provider of Gamma Knife procedures, UPMC has treated more than 12,000 patients with tumors, vascular malformations, pain, and other functional problems.

Other adenocarcinoma treatments

Other treatments for adenocarcinoma may include chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

People who have radiosurgery or EEA surgery are able to continue other systemic treatments soon after their procedures.