Because the brain closely fills the tight compartment of the rigid skull, any added substance inside the skull cavity, be it a hemorrhage, an infection of the brain (encephalitis), or the covers of the brain (meningitis), or increase in blood circulation, or swelling of the brain (edema) due to an allergy or brain in jury, or a new growth in the brain (brain tumor), will cause severe and constant headache until the increase in intracranial (intra-skull) pressure is relieved by spinal puncture (which removes fluid from the brain), by brain surgery, by drugs, or by the natural course of events.

Because of the important centers located in the brain and because of the fixed space inside the skull, any tumor or growth in the brain, whether benign or malignant, has to be considered malignant, since prolonged continuation of the increased intracranial pressure can produce blindness, or paralysis of one side of the body, convulsions, severe head­ache and vomiting.

It is therefore important that any sudden and persistent headache should obtain the early study and attention of a neurologist. Of course, some common sense has to be employed in such decisions, since every headache does not warrant an urgent rush to a neurologist, any more than every pimple or spot on the skin means cancer and a rush for a biopsy. When in doubt, however, it is wisest to consult a responsible authority on the subject.

Types of Brain Tumor

There are many types of brain tumor. Some are easy to reach, especially if they are located near the skull, and may be removed completely. Others are deep seated in the brain and invade large areas of its substance, so that complete removal could only be accomplished at the risk of causing further damaging symptoms, paralysis, or even death. In such situations, a small portion of the brain tumor is removed to allow for the release of the increased intracranial pressure and the temporary easing of the symptoms, with the full understanding that the unremoved parts will continue to grow and lead to paralysis, numbness, blindness, vomiting, wasting of the body and ultimate death. Deep x-ray treatment into the brain can sometimes retard the speed of growth of special types of tumor. Certain tumors such as a glioma grow very slowly and, if situated in a so-called “silent area” of the brain, may not disable the patient severely for many years. When I was 15 years of age, an older brother of a friend had a glioma removed from the cerebellum part of the brain and continued to conduct his small business. When I was 25 years of age, he had a second operation for the removal of a remnant of the same tumor, which in the course of years had grown to large size. When I was 35, he had the third operation for the same regrown tumor, following which he became totally disabled. Research is continuing in many medical centers of the country for better methods of destroying brain tumors without injury to the patient.