Can you have a brain tumor with a normal physical exam?

Possible: While a typical physical exam may not identify a brain tumor there is good news: 1. They are exceptionally uncommon in 19 year-olds. 2. A big one or even a small one in the right place would cause symptoms that should be found on a typical physical exam.

Finding brain tumor: It's not common to find a brain tumor on a routine physical exam. The problem with brain tumors is that they may cause no symptoms or findings. So yes, a normal physical exam does not exclude the possibility of a brain tumor. But, a brain tumor is less likely to be found if the exam is normal. Progressive neurological deficit or a first time seizure are suspicious symptoms of a brain tumor.