Canadian Health Information Management Association Practice Exam

What is the reason a brain tumor can cause a headache?

1. Causes ischemic pain in the brain.

2. Compresses sensory fibers in cranial nerves.

3. Erodes the skull.

4. Stretches the meninges and the blood vessel walls.

The correct answer is: Stretches the meninges and the blood vessel walls.

A brain tumor can lead to headaches primarily because it stretches the meninges and the blood vessel walls. The meninges are the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, and they are sensitive to pain. As a tumor grows, it takes up space within the skull, leading to increased pressure on the brain and its surrounding structures. This pressure can cause the meninges to be stretched, which activates pain receptors and results in headache sensations. Furthermore, this increased mass effect can also affect blood vessels within the brain. The stretching of blood vessel walls may provoke pain as well, contributing to the overall headache experience. Therefore, the mechanism by which a brain tumor causes headaches is closely tied to the physical effects on these sensitive structures. The other options do not directly address the primary causes of headache associated with a brain tumor. For example, while tumors might cause ischemic changes due to vascular involvement, the direct and immediate reason for headaches is the mechanical effects of mass growth, particularly the stretching of the meninges. Erosion of the skull can occur in advanced cases but is not typically a mechanism for headache. Similarly, while tumors may compress sensory fibers, this is not the foremost cause of headache; it is the pressure and stretching effects that play a more central role