What does a brain tumor look like?

Different appearance: Different tumors have different appearances. Melanomas are purple, meningiomas are reddish pink, glioblastoma is grayish to dark red. There are too many to name but these are a few.

It varies.: This varies depending on the kind of tumor. Some tumors, like meningioma, are solid and look like a mass. Others, like astrocytoma, or glioblastoma multiforme may be hollowed out with necrotic of dead centers. Many brain tumors present with different looks. For example, CNS lymphomas present as one mass in immunocompetent patients or as multiple lesions in the immunocompromised patient.

The MRI image: Shows a mass, commonly surrounded by edema. Pathology shows abnormal blood vessel proliferation (and they leak), necrosis (dead cell areas), and abnormal mitoses.