Brain TumorRisk Factors

Few known risk factors

Exposure to vinyl chloride (increased risk of glioma) Epstein-Barr virus infection AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) Organ transplant (may increase the risk of primary CNS lymphoma) Genetic syndromes:

• Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) or 2 (NF2)• von Hippel-Lindau disease• Tuberous sclerosis• Li-Fraumeni syndrome• Turcot syndrome type 1 or 2• Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome

“The cause of most adult brain and spinal cord tumors is unknown.”-- Huntsman Cancer Institute, Univ. of Utah

Brain TumorNursing Assessments

For intracranial tumor:

Focal neurological disorders• Frontal lobe (personality disorders, motor system dysfunction)• Occipital lobe (visual disturbances, headache)• Temporal lobe (auditory hallucinations, psychomotor seizures, aphasia)• Parietal lobe (inability to distinguish left-right)

Increased ICT• Lethargy, decreased HR, decreased level of consciousness, projectile vomiting

Mental• Personality changes, depression, decreased memory

Pituitary dysfunction• Cushing’s syndrome, acromegaly, giantism, hypopituitarism

Pain• Persistent headache

Seizure activity Fluid status

• Nausea and vomiting, decreased urine output, dry mucous membranes, decreased skin turgor

Psychosocial• Anger, fear, mourning, hostility

Brain TumorReferences

Huntsman Cancer Institute, Univ. of Utahhttp://healthcare.utah.edu/huntsmancancerinstitute/cancer-information/cancer-types-and-topics/brain-cancer.php

Nanda Nursing websitehttp://nandanursing.com/nursing-care-plan-for-brain-tumor-intracranial-tumor.html