What is a Glioblastoma Brain Tumor?

A lot of people probably do not know that there are many different kinds of brain tumors. There is more to just categorizing brain tumors as benign or malignant. One of the factors that will determine treatment is the kind of tumor a person has. One of the most common kinds is the glioblastoma multiforme brain tumor. What is glioblastoma brain tumor and how is it treated?

Glioblastoma Multiforme

Astrocytomas are glial tumors that affect brain cells known as astorcytes. They can range from grade 1 benign to grade 4 malignant. Glioblastomas are grade 4 astrocytomas. It is also the most common of all astrocytomas. It can be either a primary or secondary tumor. More than 50% of primary brain tumor patients have this type of aggressive tumor.

It is possible for glioblastomas to develop from benign tumors but most often, they develop on their own. These tumors usually form in the cerebral hemisphere with the temporal lobe as the most common site. Sometimes though, they may also affect the brain stem or spine. Glioblastomas are difficult to treat because the affected cells are poorly differentiated with no clear boundaries.

Symptoms

The symptoms produced by a glioblastoma tumor usually depend on the location affected and the growth rate of the tumor. In general, patients may expect to suffer from headaches, nausea and new onset seizures. Since the lobes are commonly affected, glioblastomas are characteristically marked by gradual memory problems, changes in behavior, mood changes and concentration problems. Depending on the areas affected, a patient could also suffer from sensory motor problems, vision loss and language impairment.

Causes

At present, there is no conclusive study that can say for certain why glioblastomas develop. It has been determined though that those who have it are usually over 50. More males also seem to have them than females. There is some evidence that a person with certain genetic disorders like Turcot’s syndrome and neurofibromatosis may be at risk of developing glioblastoma multiforme.

Diagnosis

Before a patient is made to undergo any diagnostic test, a specialist would have to conduct the customary physical exam and preliminary patient interview. Certain imaging techniques may then be used to determine the presence of a glioblastoma. The specialist picks the appropriate imaging test depending on the symptoms and results of previously conducted imaging tests. Tests used may include a computerized tomography scan, magnetic resonance imaging scan and positron emission tomography scan.

Treatment

There is no cure yet for glioblastoma multiforme. Treatment options for this type of tumor are therefore only palliative in nature. Treatment may relieve pressure and some symptoms. It is therefore generally accepted that undergoing treatment may improve a patient’s quality of life. Those who opt for full treatment may also extend their lives to the maximum of five years after being diagnosed with glioblastoma. Some patients may die in less than two years. Treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

Since the causes of glioblastoma are poorly understood, there is no obvious way to prevent it.