Medical Health Encyclopedia

Trials of additional chemotherapy for less well-differentiated tumors or for residual tumors after surgery.

High-grade. Anaplastic oligodendrogliomas.

Immediate treatment. Surgery to remove the whole tumor, if possible. Radiation typically follows surgery. Chemotherapy treatments either before or with radiation. Standard agents are limited. Experts recommend trying investigative agents. Temozolomide and retinoic acid may be useful. Possible additional agents include melphalan, thiotepa, carboplatin, cisplatin, and etoposide.

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(A number of biologic markers may help identify specific oligodendrogliomas that will respond better or worse to specific treatments.)

Common Brain Tumors: Mixed Gliomas

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF MIXED GLIOMAS: Mixed Gliomas contain a mixture of malignant gliomas. About half of these tumors contain cancerous oligodendrocytes and astrocytes.

Grade

Usual Treatment

Grade determined by the highest-grade cell present in the tumor.

Same as for oligodendroglioma.

Some Common Brain Tumors by Location

Brain Tumors

Description

Usual Treatment

Meningiomas

They are found in the membranes around the brain and spinal column. They are usually benign and rarely invasive. In such cases, long-term outlook is very favorable. (Malignant forms, anaplastic meningiomas and hemangioperictyomas are uncommon and occur in about 2% of cases.)

Usually watchful waiting. Aggressive surgery the treatment of choice, if possible, although 20% recur after 10 years. Malignant forms and those at the base of the skull difficult to impossible to remove surgically. Stereotactic radiosurgery or fractionated external beam radiotherapy showing promising results for some patients.

Cerebellar astrocytomas (located in cerebellum)

Located in the cerebellum. Usually low-grade, but depends on cell type. If surgical removal is complete, up to 90% survival rates. More common in children than adults.