Supratentorial tumor is a medical term used to describe a type of brain tumor that grows in the upper part of the brain. The word is spelled as suh-pruh-ten-TOR-ee-ul too-mer. "Suh" is pronounced as /sə/, "pruh" sounds like /prə/, "ten" is pronounced as /tɛn/, "TOR" sounds like /tɔr/, "ee" is pronounced as /i/ and "ul" sounds like /ʌl/. The word "tumor" is pronounced as /tu-mər/. It is important to spell medical terms correctly to avoid any miscommunication between healthcare professionals.
A supratentorial tumor refers to a specific type of brain tumor that originates within the region of the brain known as the supratentorial compartment. The supratentorial compartment is the region located above a structure called the tentorium cerebelli, which separates the cerebrum (the upper part of the brain) from the cerebellum (the lower part of the brain).
Supratentorial tumors can arise from different cell types within this region and can be either benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). They may include tumors such as meningioma, glioma, astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma, or metastatic tumors that have spread from other parts of the body to the brain.
The symptoms and effects of a supratentorial tumor largely depend on its size, growth rate, location within the brain, and its effect on surrounding brain tissues. Common symptoms can include headaches, seizures, focal neurological deficits, altered mental status, or changes in behavior and personality. Diagnosis typically involves a combination of medical history, physical examination, imaging tests (such as CT or MRI scans), and sometimes a biopsy to determine the tumor type.
Treatment options for supratentorial tumors may vary depending on the tumor's characteristics, but often involve a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. The specific treatment plan is usually determined by a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals, including neurosurgeons, oncologists, and radiation oncologists, who consider factors such as tumor size, location, grade, and the patient's overall health condition.
The word "supratentorial" comes from the combination of two Latin roots: "supra", meaning above or over, and "tentorium", which refers to a membrane or partition inside the skull.
In anatomy, the tentorium cerebelli is a specific fold of the dura mater (a protective covering of the brain) that extends horizontally between the cerebrum and the cerebellum, dividing the cranial cavity into two compartments—the supratentorial compartment (above the tentorium) and the infratentorial compartment (below the tentorium).
When discussing brain tumors, "supratentorial" is used to describe tumors located in the cerebral hemisphere, which includes the frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes. Thus, a "supratentorial tumor" refers to a tumor that originates in or affects these areas of the brain.