What is the difference between primary and secondary type brain tumors?
A. Primary tumors originate in, or around the brain. Those that arise from the brain are often called parenchymal or axial tumors. Most parenchymal tumors that arise from the support cells (glia), or electrical cells in the brain, are generically termed “gliomas.” Some gliomas include ependymomas, medulloblastomas, astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas and glioblastoma multiforme. Primary tumors that arise from around the brain are called extra-parenchymal, extra-axial or skull base tumors. They include meningiomas, pituitary tumors, cranial nerve schwannomas and craniopharyngiomas. In 2007, there were an estimated 20,500 new cases of the brain and spinal cord cancers and 12,740 deaths resulting from primary tumors. In Orange County, it is estimated that more than 200 new parenchymal primary brain tumors and 120 new skull base tumors are diagnosed every year. Secondary or metastatic brain tumors spread to the brain through the blood stream from another area in the body (for example, the lun
