What is a brain tumor and why might surgery be needed?

A brain tumor is an abnormal growth of cells in the brain. Not all brain tumors are cancerous (malignant); many are benign (non-cancerous). However, even benign tumors can cause serious problems by pressing on normal brain tissue, so they often require treatment. Surgery is usually the first line of treatment for accessible brain tumors because removing the tumor relieves pressure on the brain. In benign tumors, surgical removal can even result in a complete cure. For malignant tumors, surgery helps by reducing the tumor’s size (tumor “burden”), which makes follow-up treatments like radiation or chemotherapy more effective. In short, surgery helps preserve brain function and can significantly improve symptoms.