Glioma (patient information)

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Editor-in-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S.,M.D. [mailto:mgibson@perfuse.org] Phone:617-632-7753; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Jinhui Wu, M.D.

Overview
Glioma is a type of tumor affecting the brain and spine. This kind of cancer can develop in different parts of the brain and spine, so the symptoms may vary. Usual symptoms include headache, hydrocephalus, nausea and vomiting, weakness, or numbness in the extremities. Treatments include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, gene therapy, or a combination of them.

What are the symptoms of Glioma?
The symptom may vary. It depends on the location of the tumor. Usual symptoms include:


 * Headache
 * Nausea and vomiting
 * Seizure
 * Personality changes
 * Vision problems
 * Motor dysfunction
 * Pain, weakness, or numbness in the extremities.

Other health problems may also cause these symptoms. Only a doctor can tell for sure. A person with any of these symptoms should tell the doctor so that the problems can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.

Who is at highest risk?
At present, the risk factors for the development of glioma are not known.

Diagnosis

 * Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): Head and spinal MRI may be the most important test for the diagnosis of glioma. An MRI uses magnetic fields but which is a different imaging type from computed tomography (CT) to produce detailed images of the body. Like computed tomography (CT), a contrast agent may be injected into a patient’s vein to create a better picture. MRI scan takes longer time than CT scan.


 * Computed tomography (CT) scan and biopsy: CT scans are often used to diagnose glioma. It can confirm the location of the cancer and show the location where the cancer might have spread. These are helpful in staging the cancer and in determining whether surgery is a good treatment option. And CT scans can also be used to guide biopsy and a biopsy sample is then removed and looked at under a microscope.


 * Positron emission tomography (PET) scan: When doing this test, a small amount of a radioactive medium is injected into your body and absorbed by the organs or tissues. This radioactive substance gives off energy to accept to produce the images. PET can provide more helpful information than CT scan and MRI scan. It is useful to see if the cancer has spread to lymph nodes and also useful for your doctor to locate where the cancer has spread.

When to seek urgent medical care?
Call your health care provider if symptoms of glioma develop. If you experience either of the following symptoms, seeking urgent medical care as soon as possible:


 * Severe headache
 * Seizure
 * Severe vomiting
 * Motor dysfunction

Treatment options
Patients with glioma have many treatment options. The selection depends on the stage of the tumor. The options are surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, gene therapy, or a combination of these methods. Before treatment starts, ask your health care team about possible side effects and how treatment may change your normal activities. Because cancer treatments often damage healthy cells and tissues, side effects are common. Side effects may not be the same for each person, and they may change from one treatment session to the next.


 * Surgery: The selection of surgery depends on your cancer stage and general health. If permitted, the neurosurgeons prefer surgery for your glioma.
 * Radiation therapy: This is a cancer treatment to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing by using high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation.
 * Chemotherapy: The treatment is to use drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing.
 * Gene therapy: Gene therapy, which is to use prodrug converting retroviruses and adenoviruses, is being studied for the treatment of gliomas. More cases need to observe to detect the treatment.

Diseases with similar symptoms

 * Gerstmann syndrome
 * Cerebral infarction
 * Spinal tuberculosis
 * Meningocele
 * Spinal neurofibroma

Where to find medical care for Glioma?
Directions to Hospitals Treating Glioma

Prevention of Glioma
For the risk factors are not clear, the preventive measure is unknown.

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
The prognosis of glioma depends on the following:


 * Whether or not the tumor can be removed by surgery
 * The stage of the cancer: the size of the tumor, whether the cancer has spread outside the primary site
 * Whether the cancer has just been diagnosed or has recurred
 * The patient’s general health