Pharmacy Clinical Pearl of the Day: Glioma

Clinical Pearl of the Day: Glioma

Glioma is a type of tumor that occurs in the brain and spinal cord.

Insight:

• Gliomas begin in the gluey supportive cells (glial cells) that surround nerve cells and help them function.
• Three types of glial cells can produce tumors.
• Gliomas are classified according to the type of glial cell involved in the tumor, as well as the tumor's genetic features, which can help predict how the tumor will behave over time and the treatments most likely to work.
• Types of glioma include:
  • Astrocytomas, including astrocytoma, anaplastic astrocytoma, and glioblastoma.
  • Ependymomas, including anaplastic ependymoma, myxopapillary ependymoma, and subependymoma.
  • Oligodendrogliomas, including oligodendroglioma, anaplastic oligodendroglioma, and anaplastic oligoastrocytoma.
• Symptoms may include headache, nausea, vomiting, confusion, memory loss, personality changes, difficulty with balance, and urinary incontinence.
• Diagnosis includes imaging studies, as well as neurological exams.
• Treatment includes surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted drug therapy, and rehab after treatments.

Sources:

• Glioma - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic
• Glioma - Diagnosis and treatment - Mayo Clinic

glioma images - Google Search