Synonym Glioblastoma multiforme Introduction Glioblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor in adults. Due to its very poor prognosis, it is classified as the most severe grade according to the WHO classification of primary tumors of the central nervous system, i.e. a grade IV glioblastoma. Glioblastoma belongs to the group of astrocytic tumors (gliomas), … Glioblastoma
Causes A glioblastoma can develop primarily (mostly elderly patients), but also secondarily through progressive growth (progression) of a WHO Grade III astrocytoma (mostly middle-aged patients). Astrocytomas develop from certain glial cells, the astrocytes, and, like glioblastomas, belong to the group of gliomas. The role of genetic factors in the development of brain tumors has become … Causes | Glioblastoma
Symptoms The first clinical symptoms appear after a few weeks or even earlier. Headaches (35%), epileptic seizures (30%) and psychological changes (16%) are the most common initial symptoms. Increased intracranial pressure due to the space-occupying effect of the tumor and the associated disturbance of the cerebrospinal fluid flow (cerebrospinal fluid circulation) causes headaches, nausea, vomiting … Symptoms | Glioblastoma
WHO – Grades The World Health Organization (WHO) divides brain tumors into 4 groups based on their growth behavior. Grade 1 tumors grow slowly and are considered benign. Grade 4 tumors grow extremely fast and have a very poor prognosis. Grade 2 and 3 tumors are in between. A glioblastoma is a tumor that originates … WHO – Grades | Glioblastoma
Life expectancy prognosis Glioblastoma is unfortunately very difficult to treat. A permanent cure is normally not possible. In the end, patients usually die of the tumor. The standard therapy consists of surgery followed by radiation and chemotherapy. Unfortunately, the tumor grows very quickly and infiltrates the surrounding nerve tissue, so that it is never possible … Life expectancy prognosis | Glioblastoma
What does the final stage look like? Glioblastoma is a malignant tumor, which usually kills the patient. A cure is currently not possible – despite surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Ultimately, it is difficult to determine when the final stage is reached. In most cases, the tumor grows again after the operation (recurrence). This is often … What does the final stage look like? | Glioblastoma
Can a glioblastoma be cured? Unfortunately, this question must be answered with a clear no. The mean survival time after diagnosis is one year. Of course, the individual case may differ considerably from the statistics. Especially young patients (under 50 years) have a slightly better prognosis. On average, they survive for about 18 months. Occasionally … Can a glioblastoma be cured? | Glioblastoma
Epilepsy Half of all patients with glioblastoma also develop epileptic seizures in the course of the disease. These seizures can sometimes even be the first sign of the tumor leading to a diagnosis. If the tumor is then surgically removed, the risk of seizures initially decreases significantly. In principle, however, patients with a brain tumor … Epilepsy | Glioblastoma