Glioma
Glioma is a type of tumor that occurs in the brain and spinal cord.
It is formed by the /glial/ cells that surround and support the nerve cells.
The types of gliomas are:
• Astrocytomas, which include astrocytoma, anaplastic astrocytoma, and glioblastoma;
• Ependymomas – anaplastic ependymoma, myxopapillary ependymoma, subependymoma;
• Oligoastrocytomas – oligodendroglioma, anaplastic oligodendroglioma, and anaplastic oligoastrocytoma;
• Mixed types of tumors in which the altered cells are of different types.
Based on the type of brain tumor, the method of treatment and the prognosis are determined.
Treatment options typically include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted drug therapy, and clinical trials.
What are the symptoms?
Clinical manifestations vary depending on the type of brain tumor:
• Astrocytoma – headache, seizures, memory loss and behavioral changes, and other symptoms may subsequently appear depending on the size and location of the tumor;
• Ependymoma – in babies, the increased size of the head can be one of the first symptoms. Irritability, insomnia, and vomiting may develop as the tumor grows. In older children and adults, nausea, vomiting and headache are among the most characteristic clinical manifestations.
• Oligoastrocytoma – the most common symptoms are seizures, headaches, personality changes, and other clinical manifestations vary depending on the location and size of the tumor.
• Oligodendrogliomas – because of their slow growth, this type of brain tumor often develops for years before being diagnosed.
The most common symptoms are seizures, headaches and personality changes, and the rest vary depending on the location and size of the tumor. When neoplasms are located on the frontal lobe.
They can lead to weakness on one side of the body, personality, behavioral changes, and short-term memory problems.
Temporal lobe tumors are usually “silent,” causing few symptoms other than perhaps seizures or language problems.
What are the causes?
In most cases, a cause for the occurrence of the tumors is not established. But scientists have discovered some chromosomal abnormalities that may cause the development of oligodendrogliomas.
Glioma treatment
Treatment methods are based on the type of tumor.
Treatment options for astrocytoma depend on the type, size, and location of the tumor, whether and how far it has spread, whether the patient has received therapy, and their general health.
Pilocytic astrocytoma – these tumors are often removed by surgery alone.
In adults and in older children, radiotherapy may also be necessary if the neoplasm cannot be completely removed during surgery.
Or have the patient thoroughly examined for signs if the tumor has already recurred.
Diffuse astrocytoma – if the neoplasm is accessible and can be completely removed, the only additional care needed is follow-up follow-ups through control examinations for the presence of possible signs of recurrence.
In adults and older children, at the doctor’s discretion radiation therapy is prescribed after the operation. The effect of chemotherapy on these tumors is being studied.
Anaplastic astrocytoma – the first stage of treatment is surgical intervention. Radiation therapy is then administered to destroy the remnants of the tumor. Chemotherapy may be given immediately after radiotherapy or when and if the tumor recurs.
Astrocytoma IV stage – removal of the tumor is first undertaken as far as possible and radiotherapy is almost always prescribed afterwards. Chemotherapy is often given at the same time as radiotherapy and can be used to delay radiotherapy in younger children.
