The exact cause of hypothalamic tumors is not known. It is likely that they result from a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
In children, most hypothalamic tumors are gliomas. Gliomas are a common type of brain tumor that result from the abnormal growth of glial cells, which are a type of cells that support nerve cells. Gliomas can occur at any age but they are often more aggressive in adults than children.
In adults, tumors in the hypothalamus are more likely to be metastatic (resulting from the spread of cancer from another organ to the hypothalmus) than they are when they occur in children.
Neurofibromatosis is a heriditary condition that is a risk factor for these type of tumors. Radiation is also a risk for tumors, although the exact risk for this type of tumor is uncertain.
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