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Neurological: Key Points
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Incidence:
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Approx 3500 cases p.a. in England & Wales
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Age:
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Rare below 30 years – but relatively evenly
distributed thereafter (peak at age 60 – 69 years).
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Patients with brain tumours typically present with one of the
following:
- Progressive neurological deficit (e.g. progressive weakness, sensory
loss, dysphasia, ataxia) developing over days to weeks.
- Seizure disorder.
- Raised Intracranial Pressure (headache, vomiting, papilloedema).
- Cognitive/personality (mental state) changes.
Prevalence among patients presenting with brain tumours:
- Focal neurological deficit > 50 %
- Seizures 25-30%
- Headaches 25-35%
- Papilloedema 23-50%
- Mental changes 16-20%
The probability of having a brain tumour in the following situations is
as follows:
- New onset seizure disorder (any type) in adults 2-6%
- New onset status epilepticus 10 %
- Headache of non-migrainous type < 1%
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