Anaplastic oligodendroglioma
Anaplastic oligodendroglioma
Anaplastic oligodendroglioma is a rare type of malignant brain tumor that develops from the glial tissue of the brain, that is, the structural component surrounding nerve cells. Oligodendrogliomas are primary, i.e. non-metastatic, brain tumors of malignancy grade 111 according to WHO classification and have all histological signs of malignant growth, such as nuclear atypia, high mitotic activity, cell polymorphism, etc.
Statistical data
According to medical statistics, anaplastic oligodendrogliomas account for 0.5-1% of all primary brain tumors. This type of tumor can develop in different parts of the brain, but the “favorite” localization is the frontal and temporal lobe. The average age at which anaplastic oligodendroglioma develops is 45-50 years.
Causes of development
Reliably the reasons for the development of this type of tumor are not established. However, experts note the connection with mutations in a certain group of genes.
Clinical manifestations
Symptoms of oligodendroglioma depend on the location and size of the tumor. There are general neurological manifestations, such as headache, cognitive disorders, etc., as well as focal symptoms, such as seizures, weakness in the limbs on one or both sides, speech disorders (aphasia), sensory disorders, etc.
Tumor diagnosis
For the purpose of diagnosis, a comprehensive examination of the patient is carried out, including assessment of the neurological status and the state of the ocular fundus, electroencephalography. Obligatory is the conduct of neuroimaging methods of research, such as: CT, MRI with or without contrast, PET CT. Histological diagnosis is made on the basis of morphological examination of tumor tissue obtained during surgery or stereobiopsy (if surgical treatment is impossible).
Molecular diagnostics
In the last decade, there has been a significant increase in interest in molecular biological testing methods. Based on the data obtained during the analysis of genetic information of tumor tissue it is possible to draw a conclusion about the sensitivity of the tumor to chemotherapy and further prognosis of the disease. In particular, codlelation of 1p19q chromosomes correlates with the most favorable outcome of the disease and is combined with response to treatment in 92.3%.
Principles of treatment
The main method of treatment is surgical removal of the tumor, followed by radiation therapy or chemotherapy. The most preferable is radical resection of the tumor. However, in case of impossibility to perform it, partial resection or stereobiopsy for diagnostic purposes are considered.
