Glioma
Ricarda Schwarz studied medicine in Würzburg, where she also completed her doctorate. After a wide range of tasks in practical medical training (PJ) in Flensburg, Hamburg and New Zealand, she is now working in neuroradiology and radiology at the Tübingen University Hospital.
More about the experts All content is checked by medical journalists.A glioma is a type of brain tumor that forms from supporting cells in nerve tissue (glial cells). Depending on the type of glial cells from which the tumor originates, a distinction is made between different tumor forms such as astrocytoma, glioblastoma and mixed tumors. Treatment options include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. The prognosis varies - some gliomas are curable, others are not. Here you can read everything you need to know about the disease.
ICD codes for this disease: ICD codes are internationally recognized codes for medical diagnoses. They can be found, for example, in doctor's letters or on certificates of incapacity for work. D43C71D33
Glioma: general
Glioma is an umbrella term for various brain tumors that develop from supporting tissue of the nervous system (glial cells). Every year around 50 to 60 in a million people develop glioma. This is the most common malignant brain tumor. Some types of glioma can appear in childhood, while others only develop in adulthood.
Glioma: WHO grade
The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies gliomas just like other brain tumors into WHO grades - depending on how benign or malignant they are. The classification ranges from grade I (easily treatable, favorable prognosis) to grade IV (rapidly growing malignant tumor, incurable). It influences the treatment and gives an indication of the likely course of the disease.
|
WHO degree |
Glioma |
|
I. |
|
|
II |
|
|
III |
|
|
IV |
|
Glioblastoma is by far the most common. This is followed by the various astrocytomas. The least common is oligodendroglioma.
Gliomas with a low WHO grade can develop into a high grade variant. That is why the average age of onset increases with the WHO grade.
The different types of glioma
A glial cell tumor can form in different places in the central nervous system. Depending on its location, it can then be divided into an optic glioma (on the optic nerve) or a pons glioma (on the brain stem).
Another way of classification is based on the type of glial cells from which the tumor develops. Accordingly, one differentiates, for example:
Astrocytoma
An astrocytoma is formed from so-called astrocytes. These cells form the majority of the supporting cells (glial cells) in the central nervous system. They demarcate the nerve tissue from the surface of the brain and the blood vessels. There are various astrocytomas, which are classified into WHO grades I to III. Second and third degree astrocytomas can turn into glioblastoma (grade IV).
Astrocytoma
You can read more information about astrocytoma in the article Astrocytoma.
Glioblastoma (grade IV astrocytoma)
Glioblastoma is a very aggressive, malignant brain tumor with WHO grade IV. Its cells of origin are astrocytes. Primary glioblastoma arises directly from healthy astrocytes. In contrast, the secondary glioblastoma develops from an existing tumor (such as a grade II astrocytoma).
Glioblastoma
You can read more about this dangerous brain tumor in the article Glioblastoma.
Oligodendroglioma
An oligodendroglioma is formed from so-called oligodendrocytes, another type of glial cell. They cover individual nerve tracts in the brain like an insulating layer and thus accelerate the flow of information. Like all cells in the body, oligodendrocytes also renew themselves from time to time. If errors occur, the cells can begin to multiply in an uncontrolled manner and form a tumor.
When imaging the brain, oligodendrogliomas often show calcified structures. They occur in WHO grade II and III and have a significantly better prognosis than astrocytomas of the same WHO grade. They can also be better treated with chemotherapy or radiation therapy. An oligodendroglioma can turn into a secondary glioblastoma.
Ganglioglioma
This type of tumor is formed from largely mature ganglion cells and Schwann cells. Ganglia are nerve nodes in which various pieces of information are interconnected. Schwann cells are a type of glial cell. They coat peripheral nerve fibers and represent a counterpart to the oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).
A ganglioglioma can in principle develop in the entire nervous system, but is often found in the temporal lobe, cerebellum or hypothalamus. It is usually a slowly growing, benign tumor that occurs primarily in children and young adults. Overall, however, this tumor is very rare.
Gliomatosis cerebri
Doctors use the term gliomatosis cerebri when diffuse tumors exist in at least three lobes of the brain and a glioma has been detected in a tissue sample. Although the individual tumor centers can belong to different WHO grades, cerebral gliomatosis is assigned to WHO grade II. The course of the disease depends on the number and type of brain regions affected and varies greatly. Due to the extensive infestation, an operation is usually not possible. Irradiation would also involve a very large irradiation field and is therefore unfavorable. Treatment is therefore chemotherapy in most cases.
Glioma: diagnosis and therapy
The basic diagnostics and the usual therapeutic procedures for a glioma essentially correspond to those for other brain tumors. But there are some special features, for example with regard to tumor detection:
A glioma is made up of glial fibers that can be detected in a tissue sample. For this purpose, the glial fiber protein (GFAP) or the protein 100 are marked in color. A differentiation from other tumors in the brain is possible because these do not contain the proteins mentioned.
Diagnosis and therapy
Further information on the usual diagnostic and therapeutic methods can be found in the article Brain Tumor.
Glioma: prognosis
In addition to the WHO grade classification, the age and general condition of the patient also have an influence on the prognosis of the disease. The older and sicker a glioma patient is at diagnosis, the worse their prognosis.
Tags: toadstool poison plants desire to have children prevention
.jpg)
