Glioblastoma

April 18th, 2008 by admin

A Glioblastoma is a type of a primary brain tumor. Primary brain tumors are those that arise from the brain itself rather than traveling or metastasizing from another location in the body. Approximately 17,000 new cases of primary brain tumors are treated each year in the United States.

Primary brain tumors can either be benign or malignant. Benign brain tumors (eg. meningiomas, acoustic neuromas, pituitary gland tumors) usually grow slowly and can often be removed by surgery depending upon their specific location in the brain. Malignant brain tumors, such as glioblastomas and anaplastic astrocytomas, among others, tend to grow rapidly spreading into the surrounding brain tissue and often cannot be entirely removed surgically.

Primary brain tumors can occur in both children as well as adults. The most common age groups are children 3 to 12 and adults ages 40-70. Metastatic brain tumors, such as glioblastomas, are much more common in adults than in children.

There are many different types of brain tumors. One type, know as astrocytomas, are tumors that arise from astrocyte cells - part of the supportive (neuroglial) tissue of the brain. Astrocytomas account for about half of all primary brain and spinal cord tumors.
Glioblastomas are fast growing astrocytomas that contain areas of dead (necrotic) tumor cells. In adults, glioblastoma occurs most often in the cerebrum, especially in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. They rarely occur in the cerebellum or brain stem.
Glioblastoma can be difficult to treat although surgery, radiation therapy, steroids, and chemotherapy have shown the ability to prolong survival.

The MediFocus Guidebook on Glioblastoma contains information that is vital to anyone who has been diagnosed with this condition.

You will learn about the causes, risk factors, common signs and symptoms, medical tests that are used to establish the diagnosis, and standard treatments. You will also learn about the latest clinical advances in the management of Glioblastoma as well as about the newest treatment options that are available.

The MediFocus Guidebook on Glioblastoma will also inform you about important new, exciting research in the area of Glioblastoma. You will also learn about the doctors, hospitals, and medical centers that are at the leading edge in conducting clinical research about Glioblastoma.

Information about clinical trials, quality of life issues, a list of questions to ask your doctor, and a useful directory of organizations and support groups that can help patients with Glioblastoma complete this valuable Guidebook.

You won’t find this combination of information anywhere else. It is easily accessible right here. We invite you to preview the MediFocus Guidebook on Glioblastoma so that you can decide if this comprehensive, trustworthy information may help you or someone you care about who has been diagnosed with Glioblastoma.

 

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