Glioblastoma Multiforme Detailed Information

Glioblastoma multiforme generally spreads rapidly to other parts of the brain. GBM is faintly more common in men than in women; the male-to-female ratio is 3:2. Most glioblastoma tumors show to be sporadic, without any inherited predisposition. They have also been connected with exposure to vinyl chloride and to high doses of radiation therapy to the brain. Glioblastomas can be classified as primary or secondary. Primary GBMs account for the large majority of cases in adults older than 50 years.

When these tumors apparent de novo, they present after a short clinical history, generally less than 3 months. Secondary GBMs (40%) normally extend in adolescence patients through malignant progression from a low-grade astrocytoma or anaplastic astrocytoma. This tumor can arise in all age groups, including children; the average age at which it is diagnosed is 55 years. The common symptoms of glioblastoma multiforme consist of seizure, nausea and vomiting, headache, and hemi paresis, the single most widespread symptom is a progressive memory, personality, or neurological scarcity due to temporal and frontal lobe involvement.

The tumor can begin producing symptoms rapidly, but occasionally is asymptomatic until it reaches a massive size. Treatment of a brain tumor depends on the nature of the tumor, how speedily it is growing, and what symptoms it causing and where it is located. Supportive treatment focuses on relieving symptoms and improving the patient’s neurologic function. The main supportive agents are anticonvulsants and corticosteroids. Surgery has several roles in the management of glioblastoma multiforme, including treatment of increased intracranial pressure, biopsy and tumor removal. Radiation therapy is needed to treat gliomas.

Chemotherapy also benefits several patients with such tumors. Chemotherapy is general treatment, meaning it is introduced to the bloodstream and travels throughout the body to destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy can be given as a pill to swallow and given directly into the spinal column with a needle. Different groups of chemotherapy drugs work in different methods to fight cancer cells and shrink tumors. Frequently, a combination of chemotherapy drugs is utilized to battle a specific cancer. Certain chemotherapy drugs may be given in a specific order depending on the type of cancer it is being used to treat.