Overview of Brain Tumor Headaches

Medically reviewed by Brigid Dwyer, MD

The majority of headaches are not worrisome, and while headaches can be especially burdensome (particularly a migraine or cluster headache), they usually go away eventually with time and/or medication.

The headache of a brain tumor, however, does not go away. It's constant (or becomes increasingly frequent) even when you are sleeping. It can also be accompanied by other alarming signs, like seizures and/or fainting. That being said, headache is sometimes the only symptom of a brain tumor.

This article explains what brain tumors are, describes their symptoms, and discusses how these tumors are diagnosed. It also shares other possible causes of headaches to help you decide whether symptoms feel like a brain tumor or something else.

What Are Brain Tumors?

A brain tumor is a group of abnormal cells that form a mass. Some are benign and noncancerous, while others are malignant (cancerous). As these cells grow, the tumor can press on blood vessels in the brain or the brain itself, causing a headache and other neurological symptoms.

Takeaway

For about half of all brain tumor patients, headache is the worst symptom. This type of headache is typically dull, persistent, and worsens with the Valsalva maneuver (like when coughing or bearing down during a bowel movement).

The headache often occurs or is worse on the same side as the tumor, but may also be generalized. This tends to happen due to increased intracranial pressure (ICP) or hydrocephalus—excessive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain.

CSF is the normal fluid that surrounds and cushions your brain and spinal cord. If a tumor obstructs the normal flow of this fluid, it causes a buildup, creating lots of pressure. This pressure may cause various symptoms including pain, vomiting, seizures, and papilledema—a sign that healthcare providers can see when performing an eye exam.

A headache from increased ICP or hydrocephalus is diffuse and non-throbbing (more dull and does not feel like a migraine) and is associated with one or more of the following features:

• Nausea and/or vomiting

• Worsening during physical activity and/or maneuvers that will increase ICP, like coughing or sneezing (Valsalva maneuver)

• Pain occurring in "attack-like episodes"

A brain tumor that causes hydrocephalus and an accompanying headache will be seen on a CT or MRI of the brain. Surgical removal of the entire tumor or part of the tumor or the placement of a shunt will allow the fluid buildup to decrease (the fluid now has a place to go), and this should alleviate a hydrocephalus-induced headache.

What Are the Signs of a Brain Tumor?

It's important to note that a brain tumor can cause an array of symptoms besides a headache, including:

• Seizures of various types

• Personality changes

• Memory changes or problems

• Nausea or vomiting

• Fatigue

• Drowsiness

• Sleep problems

• Changes in ability to walk or perform daily activities

• Loss of balance and difficulty with fine-motor skills

• Changes in judgement (including loss of initiative), sluggishness, and muscle weakness or paralysis

• Partial or complete loss of vision

• Changes in speech, hearing, memory, or emotional state

• Altered perception of touch or pressure, arm or leg weakness on one side of the body, confusion with left and right sides of the body

• Inability to look upward

• Lactation (secretion of breast milk) and altered menstrual periods in females

• Growth of the hands or feet in adulthood

• Difficulty swallowing, facial weakness or numbness, or double vision

Related: Brain Tumor Symptoms

How Brain Tumors Are Diagnosed

If you are experiencing symptoms of a brain tumor headache, see a neurologist who will perform diagnostic tests, including:

• Neurologic exam: Your healthcare provider will perform tests of mental functioning, alertness, reflexes, and strength.

• Eye exam: Swelling from tumors can press against the nerve of the eye and may be visible through an eye exam.

• CT scan: Computed tomography (CT) scan is a series of X-ray images taken from different angles to create a cross-section image of the brain.

• MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to create a detailed image of the brain.

• Angiogram or arteriogram: Similar to X-ray, these tests use a dye injected into an artery prior to images being taken.

• Myelogram: Another X-ray technique, this test uses a dye injected into the spinal fluid prior to imaging.

Related: How a Brain Tumor Is Diagnosed

Other Causes of Headaches

Headaches come in many shapes and sizes and vary in degrees from mild annoyance to crippling pain. If headaches are affecting your daily life, see your healthcare provider. Other serious causes of headaches that are not associated with brain tumors include:

• Stroke: In addition to a headache, stroke symptoms include vision changes, trouble speaking, and weakness in one side of the body. Unlike the consistent pain of a brain tumor, a headache from a stroke comes on quickly.

• Brain aneurysm: On its own, an aneurysm may cause a mild headache due to the pressure of it expanding in the brain. However, the pain from a ruptured aneurysm comes on quickly, like in a stroke. This type of headache comes on suddenly and is described as massive pain or the worst headache of your life. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, weakness, or drowsiness.

• Meningitis: A headache accompanied by a stiff neck and fever may be meningitis, an infection that affects the membranes covering the brain and spinal cords. Nausea, vomiting, and seizures may also occur with meningitis.

• Migraine: An intense headache that can interfere with your daily routine, migraines often include nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to bright lights and loud noises. While migraine can last several hours or even days and recur several times a month in some individuals, it differs from the constant pain associated with a brain tumor.

• Cluster headaches: Cluster headaches are extremely painful and debilitating headaches that occur on one side of the head. They come on quickly, reaching peak pain levels in five to 10 minutes, and can last 30 minutes to two hours. They occur daily or almost daily for weeks or months and may then disappear for a month or more. They often happen two to three hours after you fall asleep, but can occur during the day, usually at the same time of day. Cluster headaches may also cause tearing of the eyes, a droopy eyelid, and a stuffy nose.

Summary

Most headaches are not brain tumors. But a persistent headache or one that follows a different pattern from your typical headache is a sign that you need to speak with your healthcare provider.

Your healthcare provider can run a variety of tests to look for the cause of your headache. Medical conditions like stroke, brain aneurysm, and meningitis may be potential culprits, as could migraine or cluster headaches.

Remember too, not all brain tumors even cause headaches. Other symptoms, like behavior changes or muscle weakness, might be the only clue. If you have any concerns, speak with your healthcare provider without delay.

Read Next: Brain Tumors

Read the original article on Verywell Health.