Ask a doctor on the topic of Neurology

Possibility of a brain tumor?

December 22, 2015 | 20,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Frauke Gehring

Possibility of a brain tumor?
I have been experiencing headaches for about 3 weeks now. About a week ago, I woke up in the middle of the night because they were very intense. I also felt nauseous, but did not vomit.
The next day, I went to see a doctor immediately (more on that later).

The headache mainly occurs when I lie on my back, putting pressure on the back of my head. The pain is throbbing/pulsating. When I lie on my side, the pain does not occur, but there is a slight pressure on the side. So, I have been sleeping on my side for a week now. The headache has been weaker since then, and when I wake up, I only feel it slightly. In the morning, it is hardly present, but there is slight nausea and I feel a bit shaky. During the day, I occasionally experience pains either at the back of my head or a pressure on the right temple extending to the nasal cavity (no cold present). There are no vision disturbances. There is also a slight sensation of coldness in my left arm, as if a nerve is pinched.

The doctor (Internist) believes it is due to tension headache and has prescribed appropriate treatments for me. It is correct that I have a tense neck area. Two years ago, I had a shoulder injury (left Tossy 2). I have also scheduled an MRI to be sure. However, the MRI appointment is in 6 weeks, and I am very worried, so I would like to ask here if a tumor diagnosis is even a possibility.

I am 31 years old, male.

Dr. med. Frauke Gehring

Good day,

Of course, one cannot categorically rule out a brain tumor, but it is very, very unlikely. The symptoms are so typical of tension headaches that when I read them, I immediately thought, "Aha, neck headache". A brain tumor causes pain due to increased pressure in the head, so it is not dependent on position. It leads to neurological deficits such as paralysis, sensory or visual disturbances, and it gets worse instead of better.

I do not see a reason for an MRI, over the holidays I would recommend moving around a lot and using your phone/tablet less.

All the best!

Sincerely, Dr. Höllering