Glioma is cell growth that begins in the spinal cord or brain. Glioma cells resemble glial cells, healthy brain cells, and you need a proper medical checkup to determine which cells you have. A tumor is formed when glioma cells accumulate, which can develop to pressurize the spinal cord and brain.
Various kinds of gliomas exist; some are considered cancerous, while others are not. The doctor studies the type of glioma you have to enable them to determine your condition’s extent and develop the best solution.
Remember, gliomas do not spread beyond the spine or brain but are fatal because;
- They move to different brain areas
- They are hard to treat using surgery.
Below, we discuss everything you need to know about glioma.
Types of Glioma
There are three main types of gliomas that are categorized depending on the type of cell where they begin. Certain gliomas have many kinds of cells, mainly regarded as mixed gliomas. The most common types of gliomas include the following;
● Astrocytoma
This tumor begins in the astrocyte cells; astrocytomas and glioblastomas grow fast and are the most aggressive cells. Astrocytomas are common in children, while DIPG is a rare but aggressive type of cancer experienced by children.
● Ependymomas
This tumor begins at the ependymocytes, and they form in the brain’s ventricles or spinal cord. These tumors might spread via cerebrospinal fluid but do not head out of the spinal cord or brain.
Ependymomas make up 3% of all brain tumors and are popular in children.
● Oligodendrogliomas
This tumor begins at the oligodendrogliomas; they grow much slower but are more fatal with time. These tumors rarely spread outside of the brain and are mostly experienced by children.
Common Symptoms
Glioma symptoms depend on where it is located, and the symptoms might depend on how fast it grows, its size, and the type of glioma. The most common signs of glioma include the following;
- Memory loss
- Vomiting and nausea
- Headache
- Speech difficulties
- Irritability and personality changes
What Causes Glioma
Medical officers are not completely sure what causes glioma, but it begins when the spinal cord or brain cells have DNA changes. The DNA alterations instruct the cells to multiply fast and continue living after healthy ones die.
This means the body will have many unfunctional cells, which further leads to tumor formation. Certain gliomas experience DNA changes that turn them into brain cancers.
Risk Factors
The following factors put you at high risk of contracting glioma;
- Old Age- gliomas mainly occur in people between 50 and 65 years, even though they can happen at any age. Particular gliomas are more common in children compared to adults.
- Family History- glioma can be passed from generation to generation, even though it is rare. More research is required to determine whether a parent can pass these cells to their children.
- Radiation exposure- individuals exposed to certain radiation are more likely to have this condition than others.
Diagnosis
Your doctor will check your condition and medical history to determine whether you have this and its stage. CT scans and MRIs are mostly used to detect brain tumors, and the doctor will conduct a biopsy if they see an abnormal mass in the scans.
A biopsy is carried out to analyze a tissue sample, and it informs the doctor;
- Whether the tumor is cancerous
- The cell types in the tumor
- The tumor’s grade.
Treatment
Glioma’s treatment plan depends on various issues, like;
- Your health
- Health
- Size and location of the tumor
- If you have had brain treatment before.
Surgery is the go-to solution for most individuals, and the surgeon can eliminate any visible tumor, provided it is easily accessible. However, gliomas can be hard to eliminate, especially if they form in complex brain parts.
Additional treatments like radiation therapy and chemotherapy are used after surgery to make it more effective. The above therapies are adjuvant, eliminating the existing cancer parts or cells.
However, your surgeon might use radiation or chemotherapy if the tumor is inoperable.
Final Thoughts
Glioma is a common condition that mainly affects children. It is the accumulation of cancer-causing cells, and the above article has discussed everything you need to know about them.
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