Glioma

Though the following symptoms do not necessarily indicate the presence of a tumor, they can be signs of glioma. Symptoms of glioma — which can appear slowly and may be subtle at first — include confusion or a decline in brain function, difficulty with balance, speech and vision problems, muscle weakness or numbness, headache, memory loss, personality changes or irritability and more.

Some gliomas do not cause symptoms at all. You may have been diagnosed when seeing your doctor for another health issue entirely.

Our diagnostic process begins with a thorough neurological exam to assess your vision, balance, hearing and coordination. We also use MRI, CT scan and PET to visualize the size and location of the glioma in your brain.

Though gliomas can be benign, 80% are malignant and require more aggressive and complex treatment. Our team will determine the size, stage, location and type of your tumor. Common glioma types include:

• Astrocytomas – Most common type of glioma, accounting for nearly half of all primary brain tumors. They develop from astrocytes — star-shaped cells that support nerve cells. These tumors appear in the top and outer curve of the brain, and occasionally in the spinal column.
• Oligodendrogliomas – Rare and make up just 4% of all brain tumors. These slow-growing tumors form in the brain or spinal cord.
• Ependymomas – Exceedingly rare, comprising just 2% of all adult brain cancers. These tumors typically don’t spread into normal brain tissue. Because of this, some ependymomas can be cured through surgery.

Once your team determines your tumor specifics and full health and genetic profile, we determine the best treatment plan for you.

Your treatment plan takes into account your tumor’s location and grade — "low grade" (grades I or II) or "high grade" (grades III or IV) — based on the growth rate of the tumor tissue. We also factor in your DNA and genomic profile and your overall health.

Our caring and committed specialists rigorously advance medical science with new research and technology. While your plan will be tailored to you, some common treatment tactics for glioma may include:   

• Surgery to remove the tumor:
  • Image-guided surgery
  • Craniectomy
  • Craniotomy
  • Supraorbital (eyebrow) approach
  • Retrosigmoid (keyhole) surgery
  • Endoscopies
• Chemotherapy to slow cancer cell growth
• Immunotherapy to target and block specific cancer cells
• Stereotactic radiosurgery and radiation therapy to destroy cancer cells

After treatment, your doctor and team might prescribe you speech or physical therapy to relearn skills impacted by the tumor. Our treatment is ongoing and our team remains on your side long after your primary treatment, ensuring your best full recovery.

Our specialists at the Glial Tumor Treatment Program at the Kenneth R. Peak Brain & Pituitary Tumor Treatment Center believe second opinions increase survival rates. Seeking the expertise of nationally recognized brain tumor experts can confirm your glioma diagnosis and expand the range of potential solutions, including treatment methods and trials not offered elsewhere.

During a second opinion, our neurosurgeons will assess your medical diagnosis and review images you’ve already had taken. You will gain the most value from a meeting with our team if you provide us with as much of your medical history and prior tests as possible.