Is glioma malignant?

Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
Updated on September 19, 2024
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Glioblastoma is a type of malignant tumor, which generally grows at a fast pace. In the early stages of the disease, the glioma often adheres to the surrounding tissues, posing significant challenges for future complete surgical removal. At the same time, extensive cerebral edema occurs around the glioma. If prolonged, this can lead to a serious increase in intracranial pressure, manifesting as repeated headaches, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting in the patient. Over time, this condition may also lead to optic nerve atrophy, resulting in decreased vision and visual field defects. Diagnosis generally benefits from cranial CT or MRI scans, but definitive diagnosis still requires surgical removal of the tumor. A small amount of tumor tissue is typically retained for pathological biopsy.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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Causes of Glioma

Currently, there is no consensus on the specific causes of brain gliomas. Most scholars believe they result from a combination of congenital genetic factors and acquired factors. In the case of congenital factors, by tracing the medical history of patients with gliomas, it can be found that there is a tendency for a higher concentration of glioma cases among family members. Acquired factors are mostly seen in severe cranial trauma, extensive gliocyte proliferation, or due to unhealthy lifestyle habits, exposure to carcinogenic chemicals, or long-term damage from highly polluted radiation, which may easily trigger the development of gliomas.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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Is glioma a terminal illness?

Glioblastoma is not an incurable disease. Patients with glioblastoma have a type of malignant tumor that tends to grow rapidly. These tumors often adhere to surrounding brain tissue in the early stages, making complete surgical removal difficult. If any glioma cells remain after surgery, the tumor tissue will gradually grow over time. Thus, patients with glioblastoma are prone to recurrence, but it is not an incurable disease. If early detection and surgical removal can be achieved, and supplemented by radiotherapy and chemotherapy, it can maximize the therapeutic effects of the surgery, thereby effectively improving the prognosis and delaying the progression of the disease. This approach can relatively extend the patient's lifespan, and some patients may even achieve long-term survival.

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Written by Jiang Fang Shuai
Neurosurgery
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How is glioma graded?

According to the characteristics of pathology, gliomas are divided into grades one to four. Grade one is a low-grade malignancy, more benign tumor, accounting for about 5%, with a relatively high probability of successful surgical outcomes. Grade two accounts for about 35%, and after comprehensive treatment including surgery, the survival rate can reach five to ten years, or even longer. Grade three usually develops from grade two, with relatively poor prognosis, and the average survival period is about two years. Grade four, the most malignant glioma, also known as glioblastoma, accounts for about 30%-40%, with an average survival period of less than one year, and very poor outcomes.

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Written by Gao Yi Shen
Neurosurgery
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Is glioma cancer?

Gliomas are the most common type of malignant tumor within the skull, and they are also a form of cancer. Cancer is a very broad term essentially describing a process where some cells proliferate abnormally and differentiate without dying, and gliomas proliferate in the same way. To give an analogy, think of a bunch of villains: if there are heroes to suppress and resolve these villains, then generally, people would not develop tumors. However, if this group of villains gradually becomes stronger and defeats the heroes, then these villains gather within the body, forming a tumor. The same principle applies to the formation of cancer. Therefore, for such cases, it is crucial to detect cancer early and begin the appropriate treatment. Early treatment can have some very beneficial effects on the prognosis for the patient.

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Written by Guo Zhi Fei
Neurosurgery
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Glioma is a type of disease

Glioma is a very common malignant tumor in the brain, with malignancy levels divided into grades I, II, III, and IV. Grade I has the lowest malignancy, close to benign, and patients have a good prognosis after complete surgical removal. Grade IV gliomas have the highest malignancy and are also known as glioblastomas. These tumors do not have clear boundaries, making complete surgical removal impossible, and they are highly prone to recur after surgery, leading to poor prognosis. Even with the most advanced treatments, such as surgery combined with radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and gene therapy, the average survival time is only 12-14 months, and without treatment, the average survival time is only four months.