Benign brain or spinal cord tumour
Here you'll find our current definition of the critical illness, additional condition or child specific condition we cover. We've also listed any previous definitions we may have had. With each new definition we've highlighted what's changed from the previous definition.
Current definition
March 2020
Benign brain or spinal cord tumour - resulting in permanent symptoms or specified treatment
A non-malignant tumour or cyst originating from the brain, cranial nerves or meninges within the skull or spinal cord, spinal nerves or meninges resulting in any of the following:
- permanent neurological deficit with persisting clinical symptoms; or
- undergoing of or inclusion on the NHS waiting list for invasive surgery to remove all or part of the tumour; or
- undergoing either stereotactic radiosurgery or chemotherapy treatment to destroy tumour cells.
For the above definition, the following are not covered:
- Tumours in the pituitary gland;
- Tumours originating from bone tissue;
- Cholesteatoma; and
- Angiomas.
Changes from the previous definition
Merged with spinal cord tumour definition and added early full payment for inclusion on NHS waiting list.
Previous definitions
November 2015
Benign brain tumour – resulting in permanent symptoms
A non-malignant tumour or cyst originating from the brain, cranial nerves or meninges within the skull resulting in any of the following:
- permanent neurological deficit with persisting clinical symptoms; or
- undergoing invasive surgery to remove all or part of the tumour; or
- undergoing either stereotactic radiosurgery or chemotherapy treatment to destroy tumour cells.
For the above definition, the following are not covered:
- tumours in the pituitary gland;
- tumours originating from bone tissue; and
- angioma and cholesteatoma.