Glioma: Understanding Brain Tumors - Definition, Types & Symptoms

A glioma is a type of primary brain tumor where the cancer cells begin forming within the brain or spinal cord and are confined to the nervous system. Half of brain tumors are classified as gliomas.

Types

• Gliomas are made of various assortments of cells. The type of tumor depends on the distribution of these malignant cells. The various types are astrocytomas, mixed gliomas, brain stem gliomas and optic nerve gliomas. Astrocytomas are most prevalent.

Features

• As gliomas expand, they destroy healthy brain cells by releasing a chemical called glutamate. Gliomas spread quickly and, if not removed, are fatal.

Symptoms

• As a glioma expands, symptoms become more prevalent and include seizure activity, paralysis, dizziness, extreme pressure inside the skull and changes in vision.

Considerations

• There is not a cure for gliomas; removal and subsequent radiation are the only treatment options. Even with removal, the tumor may grow back.

Prevention/Solution

• Researchers at the Society of Neuroscience are experimenting on animals with drugs thought to block the discharge of glutamate; the 80 percent success rate is indicative of further testing on humans. A chemical from a variety of scorpion, chlorotoxin, has been shown to block tumor expansion and is currently being tested in human trials.