Astrocytomas are tumors that arise from astrocyte cells - part of the supportive (neuroglial) tissue of the brain. Astrocytomas account for about half of all primary tumors of the brain and spinal cord.
Glioblastomas are fast growing astrocytomas that contain areas of dead tumor cells (necrosis). Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM), the most common type of grade IV tumor, tends to invade adjacent brain tissue and to spread throughout the central nervous system. Variants of GBM include gliosarcomas and giant cell glioblastomas.
GBMs occur most often in the cerebrum, especially in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. They rarely occur in the brain stem or cerebellum.
GBM represents about 30% of all primary brain tumors and about 50% of the astrocytomas. It is more common in older adults and affects more men than women. Nine percent of childhood brain tumors are glioblastomas.
Glioblastomas can be very difficult to treat. Methods include surgery, chemotherapy, surgery and steroids.
The Medifocus Guide on Glioblastoma provides answers to the following important questions and medical issues:
What are the most common symptoms of glioblastoma?
Are there any recognized risk factors for developing glioblastoma?
What kinds of medical tests are used to establish the diagnosis of glioblastoma?
What is the current standard of care for the treatment of glioblastoma?
What treatment options are available for the management of glioblastoma?
Are there any promising new developments or potential breakthroughs in treatment?
Who are the most notable medical authorities who specialize in glioblastoma?
Where are the leading hospitals and centers of research for glioblastoma?
What are the most important questions to ask my doctor about glioblastoma?
What Your Doctor Reads:
This MediFocus Guide contains an extensive listing of citations and abstracts of recent journal articles that have been published about this condition in trustworthy medical journals. This is the same type of information that is available to physicians and other health care professionals. A partial selection of journal articles that are abstracted in this MediFocus Guide includes:
Post-traumatic malignant glioma: case report and review of the literature. British Journal of Neurosurgery. 2000
Future directions in the treatment of malignant gliomas with temozolomide. Seminars in Oncology. 2000
Temozolomide in malignant gliomas. Seminars in Oncology. 2000
Clinical cure of glioblastoma--two case reports. Neurologia Medico-Chirurgica. 2000
Phenotype vs genotype in the evolution of astrocytic brain tumors. Toxicologic Pathology. 2000
Glioblastoma multiforme in a case of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: investigation a possible oncogenic influence of human immunodeficiency virus on glial cells. Case report and review of the literature. Journal of Neurosurgery. 2000
Favorable outcome of giant cell glioblastoma in a child. Report of an 11-year survival period. Childs Nervous System. 1998
Long-term survival in cerebral glioblastoma. Case report and critical review of the literature. Tumori. 1998
Long-term survival in patients with supratentorial glioblastoma. Journal of Neuro-Oncology. 1998
Radiosurgery for primary malignant brain tumors. Seminars in Surgical Oncology. 1998
MediFocus.com understands that consumers
who are facing serious medical issues need access to credible, up-to-date medical
information to help them make informed health-care decisions. That's why we've
developed the MediFocus Guides...the
most advanced and trustworthy patient research guides for over 200 chronic and
life-threatening conditions. Each MediFocus
Guide includes a detailed overview of the condition including information
about diagnosis, treatment options, cutting-edge research, and new developments;
excerpts of important journal articles from the current medical literature focusing
on standard treatments and treatment options; a directory of leading authors and
medical institutions who specialize in the treatment of the condition; and a listing
of organizations and support groups where you can obtain additional information
about the illness.
MediFocus Guides are the perfect
solution for consumers who wish to gain an in-depth understanding of their medical
issue and avail themselves of the same type of professional level medical information
that is used by physicians and other health-care professionals to help then in
the clinical decision making process. Medifocus:
Medical Information You Can Trust
