Brain tumors rarely have a single clear cause, but understanding risk factors, warning signs, diagnosis, and treatment options can help you move from fear to a clear plan.
A headache that suddenly feels “different.” A first-time seizure. Subtle changes in balance, speech, or memory that you can’t explain. When symptoms like these show up, it’s normal for your mind to jump to worst-case scenarios—and one of the most common questions patients ask is, “What causes brain tumors?”
For most people, there isn’t one identifiable trigger. Instead, doctors look at what type of tumor it may be, where it’s located, how it’s affecting nearby brain tissue, and whether any known risk factors are present. This article walks you through the basics in plain language so you know what to watch for and what the next steps usually look like.
A brain tumor is an abnormal growth of cells in or around the brain. Tumors can be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer). The word “benign” can sound reassuring, but in the skull there’s limited extra space. Any growing mass can irritate or compress brain tissue, contribute to swelling, and raise pressure inside the head—leading to symptoms.
Brain tumors are also described as:
If you’ve already had imaging or have questions about what treatment pathways typically include, our overview of brain tumor treatment explains how specialists match care to tumor type, location, and symptoms.
“Brain tumor” isn’t a single diagnosis. The type of tumor—based on the cells involved and where it grows—helps predict behavior and guides treatment decisions.
Gliomas arise from glial cells, which support nerve cells. Gliomas can be noncancerous, malignant, or mixed. Glioblastoma is an aggressive form of glioma.
Meningiomas grow from the meninges, the thin layers that cover the brain and spinal cord. They are often noncancerous and are more commonly diagnosed in adults ages 40 to 70. Women are more likely than men to develop meningiomas. If this has been mentioned on an MRI report, reading about meningioma treatment can help you understand what “monitoring” versus intervention may mean, and when meningioma surgery is considered.
Schwannomas arise from Schwann cells, which help form the protective covering (myelin) around nerves. They’re often diagnosed in adults ages 40 to 70.
Less common adult tumors include pituitary tumors, primary lymphoma of the brain, and ependymomas. The key takeaway is that the “label” matters: two tumors can look similar on a scan but behave very differently and require different treatment strategies.
For most brain tumors, doctors cannot identify a single cause. Instead, we talk about risk factors—things that may increase the chance that abnormal cells develop and continue to grow. Many patients diagnosed with brain tumors have no known risk factors at all.
Certain inherited conditions are associated with a higher risk of developing tumors. Examples include Turcot syndrome and neurofibromatosis. These are uncommon, but they are clinically important because they can influence how a specialist thinks about evaluation, surveillance, and treatment planning.
Radiation therapy to the head used to treat a prior cancer can increase the risk of developing additional brain tumors later. This doesn’t mean radiation is “bad” or inappropriate when it’s needed—only that your history of radiation belongs in the risk-factor conversation.
Many patients ask about cell phones. At this time, there have not been studies proving that cell phone use causes brain cancer. One reason the question is hard to answer definitively is that tumors can take 10 years or more to manifest, so researchers continue to study long-term exposures.
Symptoms depend on the tumor’s size, location, and the amount of swelling it causes. Some symptoms build slowly over months; others are abrupt—especially when the brain is irritated and a seizure occurs.
Symptoms that deserve medical evaluation include:
These symptoms can be caused by many conditions besides tumors. Still, when symptoms are new, persistent, or progressing, getting evaluated is often more helpful than trying to “wait it out.”
Diagnosis usually starts with a history and neurologic exam, followed by imaging. Additional tests may help clarify what the abnormality is and how to treat it safely.
Importantly, diagnosis is more than “Do you have a mass?” It’s also: What kind is it likely to be? Is it affecting critical brain pathways? Are symptoms coming from pressure, swelling, seizure activity, or something else entirely? Those answers shape the treatment plan.
Treatment depends on tumor type (benign vs malignant), location, growth pattern, and whether it is primary or metastatic. Many plans use more than one approach.
Surgery may be recommended to remove as much of the tumor as is safely possible, relieve pressure, improve symptoms, and/or obtain tissue for diagnosis. Depending on tumor location and surgical goals, this may involve a traditional craniotomy for brain tumor resection or, when appropriate, minimally invasive brain tumor surgery.
Radiation may be used after surgery, instead of surgery, or alongside other treatments—particularly when a malignant tumor is involved or when complete removal is not possible.
Chemotherapy may be recommended for certain tumor types, sometimes in combination with radiation therapy.
Medications can reduce swelling and pressure in the brain (for example, corticosteroids or diuretics) and help control symptoms like pain and seizures.
If you’re comparing options and trying to understand what different procedures mean, our brain surgery page provides an overview of surgical care and how decisions are made.
Not every tumor requires surgery, and not every abnormal scan finding is even a tumor. But certain symptoms and situations warrant timely evaluation—especially if you’ve already had imaging that raised concern.
Consider prompt assessment if you have:
If you’re unsure how urgent your symptoms are, it’s reasonable to call a specialist’s office for guidance or seek urgent care/emergency evaluation for sudden neurologic changes.
When you’re facing a possible brain tumor, you don’t just need a list of options—you need a clear explanation of what the imaging suggests, what it means for your daily life, and which next step makes sense. At Yashar Neurosurgery, Parham Yashar, MD, provides careful evaluation and treatment planning for patients with suspected or confirmed brain tumors, including surgical options when appropriate.
If you’re looking for the best brain surgeon Los Angeles patients turn to for thoughtful answers and advanced care, you can request a consultation with Yashar Neurosurgery by calling (424) 209-2669.
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