Glioma Detailed Information

Sep 14
14:12

2008

Juliet Cohen

Juliet Cohen

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A brain glioma can cause headaches, nausea and vomiting, seizures, and cranial nerve disorders as a result of augmented intracranial pressure.

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A Glioma is a form of cancer that begins in the brain or spine. It is called a glioma because it occurs from glial cells. These brain tumors comprise the astrocytomas,Glioma Detailed Information Articles ependymomas and oligodendrogliomas. These tumors are the most common main brain tumors. Astrocytomas, ependymomas and oligodendrogliomas are conversed separately. Primary glioma brain tumors arise at a rate of 12.8 per 100,000 people. Although people of any age can expand a brain tumor, the problem appears to be most common in children ages 3 to 12 and in adults ages 40 to 70.

Symptoms of gliomas depend on which part of the central nervous system is affected. A glioma of the optic nerve can cause visual loss. Spinal cord gliomas can cause pain, weakness, or numbness in the extremities. Brain tumors can be challenging to treat, but many are treated successfully. Also, new technology helps physicians target tumors more precisely. The treatment of a brain stop glioma depends upon the characteristics of the individual tumor.

Treatment is a mutual approach, using surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Surgery is the basis of glioma treatment and absorbs removing as much of the glioma as possible, while trying to minimize damage to healthy tissue. Some tumors can be removed completely, and others only moderately or not at all. The radiation therapy is in the form of outside beam radiation or the stereotactic approach using radio surgery. Spinal cord tumors can be treated by surgery and radiation. Temozolomide is a chemotherapeutic drug that is able to cross the blood-brain barrier effectively and is being used in therapy.

Steroid medications may be required to decrease swelling and inflammation of brain tissue. Anticonvulsants medications may be prescribed to assist prevent or manage seizures. In brachytherapy, materials that produce radiation (radioisotopes) are placed directly into the tumor to demolish tumor cells from the inside (internal radiation therapy). Chemotherapy, drugs taken by mouth or intravenously, can assist kill tumor cells. Sometimes, chemotherapy-coated wafers are placed in the space left after a tumor has been detached to try and prevent recurrence. Many gliomas are treated with a combination of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.

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