About Glio Blastoma Tumors

The word cancer is used to describe an uncontrollable growth of cells from any part of the body. Glioblastoma tumors occur when glial cells in the brain multiply abnormally, causing neurologic symptoms. Surgical and radiological techniques are used for diagnosis, and several therapies are available to treat the disease. However, even with treatment, glioblastoma patients have very low chances of surviving the disease.

Like any other organ, the brain is also susceptible to developing cancer

Cancer

Cancer is the result of unchecked multiplication of cells. As the cancerous cells multiply, they crowd vital organs or even destroy them. Some of these cells enter the blood stream and travel to other parts of the body, a phenomenon known as metastasis. Like other organs in the body, the brain is susceptible to primary cancer, where the brains own cells become cancerous, or secondary cancer, where a metastasized cancer grows on the brain.

Gliomas

Glial cells within the brain are charged with supporting neuron function, providing nutrition and forming mylein, a tissue coating neurons to help guide nerve impulses. There are four types of glial cells in the brain: Astrocytes, Oligodendrocytes, Ependymal cells and Radial glial cells. All of these glial cells are capable of becoming cancerous. A type IV, or very advanced, tumor of the astrocytes is also knowns as a glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma

Glioblastomas are advanced tumors of the astrocyte glial cells. According to the American Brain Tumor Association, glioblastomas account for about half of all gliomas, and adults in the 44 to 55 age group represent most of the cases. While no clear cause for glioblastomas is known, genetic abnormalities are suspected. According to the International Radiosurgery Association, a chromosomal abnormality was noted in 80 percent of patients with glioblastoma.

Diagnosis

Nuclear scanning helps visualize the structure of the brain

When a patient presents with changes in behavior, headaches that will not go away or with neural deficits such as difficulty performing daily tasks, the physician may order radiological scanning of the head. It is then that the tumor is visualized. In order to know exactly what kind of tumor it is, a biopsy may be needed, where a small piece of the tumor is extracted and analyzed under a microscope. More recent radiological techniques have reduced the need for biopsies.

Treatment

Treatment for glioblastoma include surgery, ultrasonic aspiration, chemotherapy, radiosurgery or radiation treatment. Surgery removes the tumor. Ultrasonic aspiration uses sound waves to destroy the tumor and then aspirate it out. Chemotherapy uses chemicals that are toxic to the cancer cells, thus killing them and keeping the tumor in place. Radiosurgery uses focused beams of radiation to destroy the tumor cells. Radiation treatment uses radiation to destroy the cancer cells' ability to multiply. Even with treatment, the chances of survival for patients with glioblastoma are low, with only 2 percent of patients surviving beyond five years.

References

• International Radiosurgery Association
• Massachusetts General Hospital
• American Brain Tumor Association

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish