Meningioma (수막종)

Meninges are layers of protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, and tumors that form in these areas are called meningiomas. 수막종은 뇌에서 기원한 가장 흔한 타입의 종양으로 대부분(90 퍼센트)의 수막종은 noncancerous 이나 여전히 생명을 위협하고 있으며 각종 합병증을 야기하기도 하는데, 시각적인 손실, 뇌, 혹은 척수의 중요한 부분을 누르게 됨으로써 생기는 편마비 등을 유발 할 수 있다.

 

For a tumor of this type to occur, something―genes, environmental exposure, or a combination of the two―needs to alter the cells in the meninges so that they begin to multiply rapidly.

 

It is common in children who received radiation therapy for leukemia. The condition is also more common in women, which has led scientists to think that female hormones may play a role.

 

Most people develop a meningioma after age 40, although it's possible at any age. It is usually a very slow-growing tumor and often doesn't cause symptoms or require immediate treatment.

 

의사들은 뇌의 CT scan 이나 MRI 를 통해 뇌수막종을 감지할 수 있는데, 대부분은 종양이 커져서 환자들이 충분이 증상(간질, 멈추지 않는 두통, 청각손실, 근육위축)을 경험한 후 발견되는 경우가 많다.

 

Surgery may be performed, although it's not always possible to remove the entire tumor if it is in a sensitive area, such as near the eyes. If the meningioma can't be completely removed, the doctor may opt to administer radiation in an attempt to destroy the rest of the tumor and reduce the risk of recurrence.

 

 

 연구에 의하면, 뇌수막종이 잡초 제거제나 농사에 쓰는 농약 등과 연관되어 있다고도 한다. 특히 여자들이 오랜 기간 동안 이러한 화학물질에 노출될 경우 특히 이러한 위험이 증가된다고 한다.

 

If a patient chooses not to undergo treatment for a benign meningioma, he or she usually will undergo a brain scan every few months to monitor its growth.

 

Infection and inflammation of the meninges, caused by either a virus or bacteria, is called meningitis. It can cause brain damage, hearing loss, or learning disability, and in rare cases, it can be fatal.