Jargon Buster

“The part of each cerebral hemisphere of the brain located behind the forehead. It controls our personality, emotions, memory and behaviour. It helps us to think through the consequences of our actions and understanding social norms. The frontal lobe also contains the Broca’s area, which is associated with language production.”

Fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FRST), is stereottactic radiotherapy treatment that is given over multiple sessions.

“The trade name for a machine which delivers beams of low-dosage gamma radiation to a tumour from many different positions around the patient. This allows it to target the tumour very accurately, whilst giving minimal radiation to the surrounding healthy tissue. This is known as stereotactic radio surgery. Despite the word ‘knife’ appearing in the name, no actual knife is used.”

A set of instructions, carried on the chromosomes within each cell, that is transferred from parent to offspring. The function of a gene can be to determine something about who you are e.g. whether you have long or short eyelashes, or it can help to control processes, such as when your cells should start and stop dividing.

A condition that is caused by an abnormality in the genes. This could either be inherited from our parents, or caused by an acquired change (mutation) in our own genes. Such mutations can occur randomly, due to a mistake being made when the gene is copied during cell division, or be due to some environmental factor.

The cells in the body that develop into sperm or eggs (reproductive cells). They contain half the number of chromosomes of a somatic cell (body cell) i.e. 23 chromosomes, so that when the egg and sperm unite, the resulting cell has 46 chromosomes (23 pairs)

A condition where a person’s eye-sight is affected by a build-up of pressure within the eye. The pressure can be caused by a build-up of fluid, inflammation or something pressing against the nerve connecting the eye from the brain (optic nerve)

Small wafers or discs the size of a 5p coin containing the chemotherapy drug called carmustine. They are implanted in the brain and dissolve gradually releasing the drug. They are only licensed for people with high grade gliomas, or with glioblastomas that have returned after treatment. At least 90% of the tumour must also have been removed before they can be used.

A type of brain cell that supports and protects the nerve cells (neurons) in the brain, by providing them with oxygen and nutrients, and by removing dead cells. There are three main types of glial cells – astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and ependymal cells. Glioma is a brain tumour that grows from any type of glial cell.

A glioma is a tumour that grows from a type of cell in the brain called a glial cell.

There are different types of glial cells – the main types being astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and ependymal cells – giving rise to astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas and ependymomas, respectively.

Gliomas are the most common type of brain tumour.

Brain tumours are graded by the World Health Organisation (WHO) from 1 – 4, according to how they behave i.e. how fast they grow and how likely they are to spread within the brain. Tumours graded 1 and 2 are slow-growing, and are sometimes referred to as ‘benign’ or low grade. The word ‘benign’ is used less nowadays as it is not thought to be helpful in describing the tumour, as these low grade tumours are still serious. Tumours graded 3 and 4 are fast-growing, more aggressive tumours, sometimes referred to as ‘malignant’ or ‘cancerous’, meaning they are more likely to get bigger more quickly and sometimes spread to other parts of the brain or spinal cord.

Particular types of cells that are found in the outer layer of the cerebral hemispheres (the cerebral cortex) and also in the cerebellum and spinal cord. They are involved in muscle control, sensory perception (such as seeing and hearing), memory, emotions, speech, decision-making and self-control

High Dependency Unit. An area of a hospital that is usually located close to the Intensive Care Unit, where patients can be cared for more intensively than on a normal ward, but not to the extent of intensive care.

Weakness or paralysis on one side of the body

Tumours often show heterogeneity. This means that different cells in the tumour have different characteristics, which means that they will respond to treatments differently. As a result, a particular treatment may kill some of the tumour cells, but not others, which will continue to grow.

“A tube that is passed through a vein, often in the arm or chest, to end up in a large vein near the heart. The other end is left outside the body and is used to deliver chemotherapy drugs straight into the blood. It can also be used to take blood samples.

It is a type of central line, can be left in place for some time, and is commonly used in children.”

A structure in the brain involved in forming, storing and processing memory. It is located in the lateral ventricle (one of the spaces in the brain).

A Holistic Needs Assessment (HNA) is a chance for you and your healthcare team to look at your needs and concerns about the support you might need following diagnosis and treatment.

A Holistic Needs Assessment (HNA) is a chance for you and your healthcare team to look at your needs and concerns about the support you might need following diagnosis and treatment.

A natural chemical that is produced by the body and released into the blood stream. Hormones have various functions, including controlling metabolism (the breakdown of substances within the cell to release energy), growth and development, sleep, and mood.

The law that regulates the removal, storage, use and disposal of human tissue e.g. samples of brain tumours. It requires the consent of the person from whom the tissue came (medical diagnosis and treatment excluded), and an HTA licence if the sample is to be stored for research. The Act covers England, Wales and Northern Ireland. There is a separate act that covers Scotland – the Human Tissue (Scotland) Act 2006.

A build-up of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles of the brain. It often causes increased pressure on the brain, leading to symptoms, such as headache, nausea and vomiting, blurred vision and (in infants) an increase in head size.

High blood pressure

Located at the base of the brain just above the brain stem, it works with the pituitary gland to control the body’s hormones and, therefore, helps with functions, such as body temperature, growth, salt and water balance, sleep, weight and appetite.

Intensive Care Unit. An area in a hospital where seriously ill patients are cared for and very closely monitored.

Special tools that help create pictures of what’s happening inside our bodies.

How harmful things like cancer avoid being destroyed by our immune system.

The system in the body that defends us against foreign organisms or substances, e.g. bacteria and viruses, and against our own cells that have become abnormal. It fights infections and diseases. It includes the white blood cells, the lymph glands and the spleen.

A method to see specific proteins in a sample using colourful markers.

Something that weakens the immune system.

Treatment that stimulates the body’s immune system to fight diseases, such as brain tumours. Can involve the use of monoclonal antibodies.

A surgical cut through skin or other tissue.

The area of the brain below the membrane known as the tentorium. The infratentorial region includes the cerebellum.

Medicines that stop or slow down harmful processes in our body.

Within the skull

Abnormally high pressure inside the skull.

Giving drugs by injection into the spinal fluid

A way of giving medicines or nutrients straight into the bloodstream through a needle/tube into a vein.

To treat with radiation (high energy particles), such as X-rays.

A machine that uses radiation to treat cancer or study its effects on cells.

An area of abnormal tissue.

Abnormal drowsiness/sleepiness and inactivity.

Fats in the body that store energy and help build cells.

A type of bacteria that can cause food poisoning. Symptoms include diarrhoea, nausea and fever.

The fluid in the lymphatic system – a network of glands, particularly in the armpits, neck and groin – that drains away waste fluid and products, such as damaged cells. It also contains cells that fight infection.

When cells become cancerous (malignant). This may occur in healthy cells, or cells in a low grade(‘benign’) tumour.

Multi-Disciplinary Team. A team of healthcare professionals with different specialisations who, once you are diagnosed, work together and oversee your treatment and care.

Medical oncologists diagnose and treat people with tumours, mainly using chemotherapy and sometimes immunotherapy, and also undertake clinical research that has practical uses.

Medical oncologists can advise on all aspects of treatment, including radiotherapy, but only clinical oncologists can prescribe radiotherapy.

They often work together with clinical oncologists.

The lowest part of the brain stem that carries messages between the brain and the spinal cord. It is partly responsible for heart rate and lung functioning, and controls reflexes such as swallowing, coughing and the gag reflex.

Collective term for three thin layers of tissue (membranes) that separate the brain from the skull. Their function is to protect the brain. They are called the dura mater (outermost), the arachnoid (middle) and pia mater (innermost).