How is a brain tumor recognized?

Many brain tumors may create complaints which force the patient to seek medical help. However, today more and more tumors are being recognized before they create complaints with the help of advanced radiological studies. These studies sometimes are performed for other reasons, and coincidentally lead to discovery of tumors. Even though the physician may find the effects of a brain tumor in the body, he/she can not feel or see them during a routine physical examination. Radiological studies like CT Scan or MRI generates images that suggest a tumor. In addition, there are some rare genetic diseases in which there is a higher possibility of developing a brain tumor. In such cases, radiological studies can be performed even in the absence of complaints. After the evaluation of the radiologist, a suspicion of a tumor is raised, and a definitive diagnosis is planned. Brain tumors are often difficult to diagnose because their symptoms, which serve as clues for the medical specialist, can be hard to pin down. As a tumor grows, it can affect other parts of the brain, producing new symptoms. The tumor may compress the normal tissues, hence causing a "mass effect". Complaints may appear gradually, and because they are often not clear-cut, there may be delays between the beginning of symptoms and the actual diagnosis.