Prognosis | Oligodendroglioma

Prognosis

The prognosis of an oligodendroglioma depends mainly on the malignancy and the treatment options. The more aggressive the tumor, the lower the chances of survival. The time of diagnosis also plays a role.

On average, an oligodendroglioma is a slowly but steadily growing tumor with low malignancy. With good prognostic factors, i.e. very good location, small size and low malignancy, the 10-year survival rate is almost 50%. With poor prognostic factors, the survival rate is about 20%.

The mean survival time is estimated to be about three to five years. This poor prognosis, despite mostly low aggressiveness, can be explained by the fact that brain tumors put a lot of pressure on the brain when growing. However, since the brain is surrounded by the skull, the brain cannot give way to the pressure and is usually severely damaged by the pressure of the tumor.

After successful treatment of an oligodendroglioma, follow-up examinations are very important, since brain tumors are often prone to recurrence, i.e. they often reappear. Depending on the type of tumor, it may be necessary to have follow-up imaging every 3-12 months. In the case of additional or sole chemotherapy, blood checks are also necessary, as chemotherapy can lead to a blood formation disorder.