Table Table Pathophysiology of Intracranial Tumors Neurologic dysfunction may result from the following: Invasion and destruction of brain tissue by the tumor Direct compression of adjacent tissue by the tumor Increased intracranial pressure (because the tumor occupies space within the skull) Bleeding within or outside the tumor Cerebral edema Obstruction of dural venous sinuses (especially by bone or extradural metastatic tumors) Obstruction of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage (occurring early with 3rd-ventricle or posterior fossa tumors) Obstruction of CSF absorption (eg, when leukemia or carcinoma involves the meninges) Obstruction of arterial flow Rarely, paraneoplastic syndromes A malignant tumor can develop new internal blood vessels, which can bleed or become occluded, resulting in necrosis and neurologic dysfunction that mimics stroke.