Brain Tumor Types

Health care providers, pathologists, and researchers identify brain tumor types and grades by the World Health Organization (WHO) Classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System (CNS).

Brain tumors are classified by the microscopic structure of their tissues and unique characteristics at the molecular level.

Brain tumors are also often graded to compare and classify the severity of tumors within a certain type. In general, tumors may be CNS WHO grade 1, which is the least aggressive, up to CNS WHO grade 4, which is the most aggressive.

Knowing the type and grade of a brain tumor helps the health care team predict its behavior, identify the best possible treatment options, and identify potential eligibility in clinical trials.

Click on the links below for more information on specific tumor types:

• Acoustic Neuroma
• Astrocytoma:
  • Grade 1 – Pilocytic Astrocytoma
  • Grade 2 – Low-grade Astrocytoma
  • Grade 3 – Anaplastic Astrocytoma
  • Grade 4 – Glioblastoma (GBM)
• Chordoma
• CNS Lymphoma
• Craniopharyngioma
• Other Gliomas:
  • Brain Stem Glioma
  • Ependymoma
  • Mixed Glioma
  • Optic Nerve Glioma
  • Subependymoma
• Medulloblastoma
• Meningioma
• Metastatic Brain Tumors
• Oligodendroglioma
• Pituitary Tumors
• Primitive Neuroectodermal (PNET)
• Other Brain-Related Conditions
• Schwannoma

The following tumor types are more common in children than in adults:

• Brain Stem Glioma
• Craniopharyngioma
• Ependymoma
• Juvenile Pilocytic Astrocytoma (JPA)
• Medulloblastoma
• Optic Nerve Glioma
• Pineal Tumor
• Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumors (PNET)
• Rhabdoid Tumor

Please speak with your health care provider for more information about your tumor type, biomarkers, and treatment options including clinical trials.