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Brain Tumour Types

We’re here to help anyone affected by any type of brain tumour.

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Brain Tumour Types

Learn about different brain tumour types, their origins, and behaviours.

There are more than 120 types of brain and central nervous system (CNS) tumours?

This section describes the most frequently diagnosed types of brain tumours.

Update on the classifications of brain tumours:

Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada, and many other medical organizations around the world, refer to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification system to identify brain tumours. The WHO classifies brain tumours by cell origin and how the cells behave, from the least aggressive (non-malignant) to the most aggressive (malignant). Some brain tumour types are assigned a grade ranging from Grade I (non-malignant) to Grade IV (most malignant), which also signifies the rate of growth.

On May 9, 2016, the WHO published an official reclassification of tumour types of the CNS, which helps doctors to diagnose more accurately, plan treatments accordingly and predict therapeutic response for patients. The reclassification document can be found here.

Please share with your health care providers and loved ones – we at Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada are trying to shift the language used when someone is diagnosed with a non-malignant brain tumour. We are encouraging members of our community to avoid using the word “benign” because we feel there is nothing benign about a tumour in someone’s control centre – the brain.

Find information on a specific brain tumour type by clicking on a category below.

  • Astrocytomas
    Anaplastic Astrocytoma Astrocytoma – An Overview Diffuse Astrocytoma Glioblastoma (GB) Pilocytic Astrocytoma
  • Gliomas
    Diffuse Midline Glioma Ependymoma Oligodendroglioma Optic Pathway Glioma
  • Embryonal Tumours
    Atypical Teratoid / Rhaboid Tumour (AT/RT) Medulloblastoma
  • Non-Malignant Brain Tumours
    Acoustic Neuroma Craniopharyngioma Meningioma Pilocytic Astrocytoma Pituitary Adenomas
  • Pediatric Brain Tumours
    Atypical Teratoid / Rhaboid Tumour (AT/RT) Craniopharyngioma Diffuse Midline Glioma Ependymoma Medulloblastoma Optic Pathway Glioma Pilocytic Astrocytoma
  • Metastatic Brain Cancer
    Metastatic Brain Tumours
  • Other Brain Tumours and Related Conditions
    Brain Cysts Chordoma Dysembryoplastic Neuroepithelial Tumour (DNET) Ganglioglioma Germ Cell Tumours Hemangioblastoma Neurofibromatosis Type 1 Neurofibromatosis Type 2 Pineal Tumours Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC)

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Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada

205 Horton St E, Suite 203, London, ON N6B 1K7

Office Hours: The office is open Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm (EST).

Toll Free: : 1-800-265-5106

Locally: : 519-642-7755

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BN118816339RR0001

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