Gliomas Manchester

A Glioma is a rare tumour which starts in the brain. This type of growth starts from the glial cells of a region of the brain and gradually spreads into wider areas of the brain.

There are three types of glial cells:

• Astrocytes – Astrocytomas, the most common type of glioma
  
  
• Oligodendrocytes – Oligodendrogliomas, a rare type of glioma
  
  
• Ependymal cells – Ependymomas, a rare type of glioma

Gliomas can be slow or fast growing, and are graded from Grade 1 (benign) to Grade 4 (cancer) based on how aggressively they behave.

Unfortunately, the root cause of Gliomas is unknown and there is no lifestyle, dietry or environmental factors known to trigger this type of growth. 

The symptoms of a Glioma will vary depending on the location of the tumour. Symptoms will often start gradually and worsen over time as the tumour continues to grow. Symptoms include:

• Cognitive or personality changes
• Decline in brain function
• Seizures
• Headaches.
• Nausea and vomiting
• Weakness
• Speech problems
• Vision problems

If your GP suspect you may have a brain tumour, they may refer you to Neurosurgeon for a neurological exam and for more investigations, including a brain MRI scan. 

When a glioma is suspected on a scan, the images are reviewed by a Neurosurgeon specialised in this condition, who may decide to either actively monitor the glioma with regular scans or to obtain a tissue diagnosis by removing the gliomas or performing a biopsy.

Surgery is usually the main treatment option for most gliomas and aims to remove as much of the glioma as is safely possible, and to establish the exact diagnosis and grading. Surgery can be carried out under general anaesthetic or awake depending on the location of the tumour.

Special techniques are also used to optimise the removal of the tumour, including the use of fluorescence techniques to visualise more accurately the glioma, monitoring of the nerve functions during the procedure either keeping the person awake or using special electric probes.

Minimally invasive techniques can also be used.

Following surgery, depending on the tumour grading, further treatments may be required including chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Occasionally, when the whole tumour is removed and the tumour is a low grade (grade 1 and 2), no further treatments are required.

However, when the tumour is too widespread or with surgery it is not possible to remove the whole tumour or most of it, medical treatments are warranted, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy.