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Glioma
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About Drug Therapy for Gliomas and Glioblastomas About Awake Surgery for Brain Tumors Table of Contents, New Patient Visit What to Expect After Radiation Therapy to the Brain and Spine First Appointment Checklist Follow-Up Care: What to Expect After Treatment Frequently Asked Questions About Craniotomy After Craniotomy: Recovery at Home Managing Cardiac and Cognitive Side Effects of Drug Therapy Managing Changes to Your Hair from Drug Therapy Managing Digestive Side Effects from Drug Therapy Managing Drug Therapy Side Effects to the Skin and Nails Managing Moderate Pain and Vision Changes with Drug Therapy Managing Risks of Infection and Fatigue from Drug Therapy Managing Side Effects of Drug Therapy Common Drug Therapy Terms Managing Symptoms of Menopause During Drug Therapy Nutrition for Managing Side Effects During Treatment Nutrition Guidelines During Your Care Port Placement Preparing for Your Simulation Appointment Questions to Ask During Your First Appointment Questions to Ask Your Radiation Oncologist What to Expect During Your First Appointment Your Care Team What to Expect After Drug Therapy Signs and Symptoms After Craniotomy Stanford Nutrition Services Table of Contents, Drug Therapy Consult Getting Ready for Craniotomy About Radiation Therapy for Brain Tumors What to Expect of Radiation Therapy to the Brain and Spine What to Expect During Radiation Therapy for Brain Tumors Managing Side Effects of Radiation Therapy Introduction to Chemotherapy Instructions for Your Etoposide Neuropathy Sex and Reproduction Managing Anemia Instructions for Temodar with Radiation Treatment Instructions for Temodar with Cyberknife Instructions for Monthly Temodar Instructions for Lomustine Constipation Management Important Facts You Need to Know Chemo Kit: Over the Counter Items to Have on Hand Clinical Trials 20 Ways to Boost Your Energy With Nutrition Avastin Education Brain Imaging About Brain Tumors Brain Tumor Biopsy Lab Tests During Brain Tumor Care What to Expect During Brain Tumor Drug Therapy What to Expect Before Brain Tumor Drug Therapy
Glioma
What We Offer
Treatments
Why Choose Stanford
About Drug Therapy for Gliomas and Glioblastomas About Awake Surgery for Brain Tumors Table of Contents, New Patient Visit What to Expect After Radiation Therapy to the Brain and Spine First Appointment Checklist Follow-Up Care: What to Expect After Treatment Frequently Asked Questions About Craniotomy After Craniotomy: Recovery at Home Managing Cardiac and Cognitive Side Effects of Drug Therapy Managing Changes to Your Hair from Drug Therapy Managing Digestive Side Effects from Drug Therapy Managing Drug Therapy Side Effects to the Skin and Nails Managing Moderate Pain and Vision Changes with Drug Therapy Managing Risks of Infection and Fatigue from Drug Therapy Managing Side Effects of Drug Therapy Common Drug Therapy Terms Managing Symptoms of Menopause During Drug Therapy Nutrition for Managing Side Effects During Treatment Nutrition Guidelines During Your Care Port Placement Preparing for Your Simulation Appointment Questions to Ask During Your First Appointment Questions to Ask Your Radiation Oncologist What to Expect During Your First Appointment Your Care Team What to Expect After Drug Therapy Signs and Symptoms After Craniotomy Stanford Nutrition Services Table of Contents, Drug Therapy Consult Getting Ready for Craniotomy About Radiation Therapy for Brain Tumors What to Expect of Radiation Therapy to the Brain and Spine What to Expect During Radiation Therapy for Brain Tumors Managing Side Effects of Radiation Therapy Introduction to Chemotherapy Instructions for Your Etoposide Neuropathy Sex and Reproduction Managing Anemia Instructions for Temodar with Radiation Treatment Instructions for Temodar with Cyberknife Instructions for Monthly Temodar Instructions for Lomustine Constipation Management Important Facts You Need to Know Chemo Kit: Over the Counter Items to Have on Hand Clinical Trials 20 Ways to Boost Your Energy With Nutrition Avastin Education Brain Imaging About Brain Tumors Brain Tumor Biopsy Lab Tests During Brain Tumor Care What to Expect During Brain Tumor Drug Therapy What to Expect Before Brain Tumor Drug Therapy
Glioma
Glioma is a cancer of the glial cells, which surround and support neurons (nerve cells) in the brain and spine. When these cancerous cells multiply, they form tumors that can affect movement, sensation, and thought.

At Stanford Health Care, we're leaders in treating all types of glioma tumors, including ones that other health centers consider too challenging to treat. People from around the world come to us for our multispecialty team, advanced treatment options, and compassionate care.

Overview

About Glioma

What is a glioma?

Glial cells protect and nourish neurons, helping them send information throughout the brain and between the brain and the rest of the nervous system. When glial cells turn into a tumor, the neurons cannot perform their jobs, leading to symptoms that affect everyday life.

Glioma affects six in 100,000 people in the United States each year. The most common type of glioma is glioblastoma, a fast-growing brain tumor. 

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Understanding Glioma

Symptoms

Glioma Symptoms

Glioma symptoms depend on the tumor's size and location. Although people with small gliomas may not experience symptoms, large glioma tumors can cause:

  • Headache
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Confusion or decline in brain function
  • Changes in personality or mood
  • Difficulty with balance or speech
  • Blurred vision, double vision, or loss of peripheral (side) vision
  • Seizures
  • Sensory disturbances such as numbness, tingling, or burning sensations

Types

Types of Glioma

Glioma tumors get their names from the type of glial cells they start in.

  • Astrocytomas start in astrocyte cells and make up 20% of all brain tumors. Glioblastoma is a type of astrocytoma and the most common—and most aggressive—cancerous brain tumor in adults.
  • Ependymomas start in the ependymal cells and account for 2% of brain tumors.
  • Oligodendrogliomas begin in the oligodendrocytes cells and are rare, representing 1% to 2% of brain tumors.

Doctors further classify gliomas by grade, depending on how fast the tumor grows and how likely it is to spread.

  • Low-grade (grade 1 or 2) tumors typically grow slowly and are less likely to invade surrounding tissues.
  • High-grade (grade 3 or 4) tumors grow and spread quickly. 

Risk Factors

Glioma Risk Factors

In most cases, we don't know what causes glioma. However, some factors may increase your risk, including:

  • Age
  • Prior radiation therapy
  • A family history of certain inherited genetic disorders

Diagnosis

Diagnostic Tests for Glioma

Medical and Family History

Your doctor wants to learn about your medical history, including any previous radiation therapy, and your habits and lifestyle. Sharing your family’s medical history also helps doctors understand your situation and alert them to possible inherited genetic disorders.

Neurological Examination

Doctors use a neurological exam to help diagnose glioma. During this exam, your doctor looks for changes in your vision, hearing, balance, coordination, strength, and reflexes. These changes can be signs of a tumor and may help determine its location.

Imaging Tests

Imaging tests that take pictures of your brain and the areas around it also help diagnose glioma. Doctors use various imaging technologies, each offering different insights to confirm a tumor's presence and location.

  • MRI: Our doctors prefer to use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to confirm the presence of glioma. This test uses radio waves and powerful magnets to create images of brain structures. A technologist or nurse may perform this scan by injecting contrast dye into your arm to highlight the tumor's location.
  • CT scan: Some people cannot have an MRI because the magnets interfere with implanted medical devices such as pacemakers and cochlear implants (hearing devices). Computed tomography (CT) scans combine multiple X-rays into 3D images and provide doctors with another way to see structures in the brain.

Biopsy

Your doctor may perform a biopsy to diagnose glioma. During a biopsy, your doctor uses a small needle to remove cells from the tumor.

Doctors look at the cells under a microscope to determine if the tumor is cancerous. They also evaluate the glioma tumor's type, genetic features, and grade, which help determine how quickly it may grow or spread. 

Genetic Testing For Brain Tumors

Genetic testing is a medical test that identifies changes in genes, chromosomes, or proteins. For brain tumors, genetic testing can show whether you have inherited mutations in genes related to the disease.

Brain Tumors Lab Tests (Blood Draws)

Before and during treatment, your doctor will ask you to have your blood drawn and tested at a lab. Blood tests can provide a variety of information, helping to establish your diagnosis and plan your course of brain tumors treatment.

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Learn more about the roles of surgery, drug therapy, and radiation therapy in treating Glioma Brain Tumors.

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Learn more about the roles of radiation therapy in treating tumors of the Brain and Spine.

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To request an appointment with a neurosurgeon, call 650-497-7777.

To request an appointment with a neurologic or radiation oncologist, call 650-498-6000.