A patient with a brain tumor may be at risk for:
(1) seizures
(2) hemorrhage, which may be into the tumor or into adjacent structures
Risk factors for complications during air travel:
(1) type of brain tumor (see below)
(2) size, number and location of tumor(s), especially with a large tumor
(3) duration of the flight (risk increased with prolonged flights)
(4) hypoxemia associated with reduced barometric pressure
(5) dehydration
(6) venous pooling into the lower extremities after prolonged sitting
(7) recent intracranial surgery
(8) therapy with an anticoagulant or antiplatelet drug
(9) history of seizures or intracranial hemorrhage
Tumors that are more likely to bleed:
(1) metastatic melanoma
(2) metastatic thyroid carcinoma
(3) metastatic renal cell carcinoma
(4) metastatic choriocarcinoma
(5) glioblastoma multiforme
(6) oligodendroglioma
(7) pituitary adenoma
(8) mixed glioma
(9) choroid plexus papilloma
