The Brain Tumour Podcast

Here I describe haemangioblastoma, an unusual tumour of adults. Although it is benign, it can run in families and also can be challenging to treat surgically.

This is the first episode of the second series of the Brain Tumour Podcast, in which I will be covering unusual and rare types of brain tumours. The first episode is an introduction to Solitary Fibrous Tumour / Haemangiopericytoma.

There are several medications used in brain tumour patients, that are not chemotherapy, but are very important in controlling symptoms associated with having a brain tumour and dealing with the side effects of treatment. It is important to understand these medications, which include corticosteroids like dexamethasone, anti-seizure medications, analgesics and anti-emetics.

Children unfortunately do have brain tumours. In this episode I give a VERY brief introduction to this huge subject, touching on some of the key differences between children and adults, and describe some of the common brain tumours that occur in children.

I give an overview of CSF and ventricular system, why brain tumours can cause a disruption in this system and hence hydrocephlaus, and how this may have to be dealt with with a shunt procedure. 

In this episode I give an introduction to the basic anatomy of the pituitary gland, how pituitary tumours are classified and investigated, and then how they are treated. 

This episode is an Introduction to Meningiomas, the commonest benign  brain tumour. I discuss the incidence and causes of these tumours, then  clinical presentation investigation and treatment.

This episode is an introduction to chemotherapy for brain tumours. I  cover what chemotherapy is, what types of brain tumours are treated with  chemo and describe the basic regime of chemo for GBM.

I outline a brief overview of Radiotherapy, touching on the basic  mechanism and delivery options, as well as the general indications for  radiotherapy in brain tumour patients.

In this episode I describe what metastatic brain tumours are, their  common sites of origin, clinical and radiological features, and  treatment options

In episdoe 8, I discuss the basic treatment schedule for adult patients with  gliomas. I describe the preoperative workup, surgery and then the  adjuvant treatment that is usually given – radiotherapy and  chemotherapy. More detailed episodes will  cover radiotherapy and chemotherapy but here I cover that overall  management plan that usually applies for adult glioma.

In this episode of the Brain Tumour Podcast Dr Daved Walker gives an introduction to subject of Low Grade Gliomas, particularly as they pertain to adults. I describe the main subtypes, that is astrocytoma and oligodendroglioma, and how these tumours are  differentiated. I talk about the investigations, and then the controversy around the approach to management.

In this episode of the Brain Tumour Podcast Dr David Walker describes the important topic of Glioblastoma and the closely related Astrocytoma Grade 4. I talk about the key pathological, clinical  and imaging characteristics  of these tumours as well as the differences. I then briefly discuss the  treatment options and overall outlook

In this episode of The Brain Tumour Podcast is an Introduction to Gliomas. 

Gliomas are common  tumours of the brain. But there are many different varieties so this  episode gives an introduction to Gliomas, and describes the common  glioma types, who they affect and why precise pathological  and molecular classification is used when diagnosing these tumours.

In this episode of the Brain Tumor Podcast, I talk about the role  that a neurosurgeon and surgery itself has in the management of brain  tumours, from biopsy, to resection, brain mapping and awake craniotomy. I  also discuss what a patient  might expect when they are going through this ordeal.

This episode of the Brain Tumour Podcast we look at who gets Brain tumours and why?
Very often  people wonder why they or their relative were the ones to get a brain  tumour. Today I talk about the who does get different types of brain  tumours, and if there is a reason why.

This Brain Tumour Podcast is all about  investigations for brain tumours. I will discuss the different types of  scans that are often used, such as CT and MRI scans, as well as other  more specialised ones such as PET  scans and blood tests that are sometimes useful.

In this first episode of the Brain Tumor Podcast, Professor Walker defines a brain tumour and  describes the common terminology used.  He then discusses the problems they cause – the symptoms the a person or their family might experience and the signs to look out for.