|
|
Article: Brain and Central Nervous System Tumors
- Article from:
- Gale Encyclopedia of Cancer
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 The Gale Group Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Brain and central nervous system tumors
Definition
Like all other parts of the body, the brain and central nervous system are made up of cells that ordinarily grow and divide to create new cells as needed. This is usually an orderly process; but when cells lose their ability to grow normally or to die off naturally, they divide too often and produce tumors that are made up of these extra cells.
Description
The brain and spinal cord together comprise what is known as the central nervous system (CNS). Like all
tumors in the body, CNS tumors are either benign or malignant. Benign tumors are called non-cancerous because they have precise borders, are not invasive, and the cells that make ...