What does central nervous system tumor mean?

A central nervous system tumor, often shortened to CNS tumor, is a tumor that forms in the brain or spinal cord. The brain and spinal cord together make up the central nervous system.

Brain and spinal cord tumors are grouped together as CNS tumors because they form in the same system. These tumors can be benign, meaning not cancer, or malignant, meaning cancer. There are many different CNS tumor types.

Your healthcare team can explain more about a specific type of CNS tumor and what it means.