What are the symptoms of occipital bone tumors?
I have been feeling headaches lately, accompanied by occasional nausea. I heard it might be a枕骨 tumor (occipital bone tumor), and I'm quite worried. I would like to know if it is indeed an occipital bone tumor, what other more specific symptoms might occur?
Doctor's answer (1)
Skull base chordoma, medically referred to as clival chordoma or skull base tumor, is a benign tumor that develops on the occipital bone and typically grows slowly. Below are the main symptoms of occipital bone tumors:
1. Early-stage symptoms: In the early phase of the disease, the tumor is usually small and has minimal impact on surrounding tissues. Patients may not experience noticeable symptoms or may only feel mild discomfort. For example, they may experience intermittent scalp pain that is mild in intensity or skin redness and swelling, which can be mistaken for common skin problems. These early symptoms are often overlooked by patients due to their atypical and subtle nature.
2. Mid-stage symptoms: As time progresses, the tumor gradually enlarges and exerts increasing pressure on brain tissue. At this point, patients may develop more obvious symptoms of brain compression, such as dizziness, a sensation of spinning, and unsteadiness while standing. Headaches become more frequent and severe, often presenting as persistent pain accompanied by symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. Some patients may develop visual impairments, blurred vision, or even periorbital pain due to compression of the optic nerve or related nerves.
3. Late-stage symptoms: When the tumor continues to grow larger, patients may suffer from severe pain that is typically intense and persistent, significantly affecting daily life, including sleep, eating, and routine activities. If medical treatment is not sought immediately at this stage, the tumor may continue to worsen, severely compromising the patient's health and even threatening life.
