Glioblastoma Gliomas account for more than 70% of all brain tumors, and of these, glioblastoma is the most frequent and malignant histologic type (Ohgaki and Kleihues, 2007). Despite scientific advances, the average life expectancy of patients is nearly 15 months with poor life quality (Field et al., 2015). There are few treatments available for newly diagnosed patients; the most common is surgical removal of the tumor followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Based on multiple studies, there has been no reliable evidence that chemotherapy has any benefit to the patients’ health because most of the chemotherapy drugs are unable to cross the blood-brain barrier (Field et al., 2015; Shevtsov et al., 2014). The prognosis remains poor with most patients dying within 1 year after diagnosis. No further improvements in outcomes have been documented since the introduction of radiotherapy–temozolomide therapy in 2005 (Chinot et al., 2012).
Figure 1. MRI of patient with Glioblastoma. Blue arrow is pointing to the tumor. The white area around the tumor is due to inflammation of the surrounding tissue. Within the tumor is a dark center containing necrotic or dead cells. Available at …show more content…
These symptoms can include headache, nausea, vomiting, and drowsiness. Depending on the location of the tumor, patients can develop a variety of other symptoms such as weakness on one side of the body, memory and/or speech difficulties, and visual changes (American Brain Tumor Association, 2014). MRIs with and without contrast are used to identify glioblastomas, which are easily spotted by a dark center of necrotic tissue surrounded by a white ring of inflammation (Figure 1) (Omuro and DeAngelis, 2013). However, due to the similarity of glioblastomas and metastasized gliomas for MRI imaging, most will require biopsies to identify the tumor
Figure 1. MRI of patient with Glioblastoma. Blue arrow is pointing to the tumor. The white area around the tumor is due to inflammation of the surrounding tissue. Within the tumor is a dark center containing necrotic or dead cells. Available at …show more content…
These symptoms can include headache, nausea, vomiting, and drowsiness. Depending on the location of the tumor, patients can develop a variety of other symptoms such as weakness on one side of the body, memory and/or speech difficulties, and visual changes (American Brain Tumor Association, 2014). MRIs with and without contrast are used to identify glioblastomas, which are easily spotted by a dark center of necrotic tissue surrounded by a white ring of inflammation (Figure 1) (Omuro and DeAngelis, 2013). However, due to the similarity of glioblastomas and metastasized gliomas for MRI imaging, most will require biopsies to identify the tumor