Glyoblastoma - what is this disease? Symptoms and prognosis with glioblastoma of the brain

In modern times, many people have become victims of a terrible disease, called "glioblastoma." What kind of ailment is this, what danger does it represent for human life and are there effective ways of treating it? Consider everything in order.

Glyoblastoma - what is it?

The disease is a serious malignant brain tumor that develops from glial cells. Characteristic features of the disease is the chaotic location of cells exposed to malignant process, widespread swelling, changes in the configuration of blood vessels, and the presence of necrotic areas in the brain. Distinctive features of the disease is its rapid progression, in which the surrounding tissue is rapidly involved in the process, so that the tumor has no clear boundaries.

Causes of the disease

The etiology of glioblastoma has not been adequately studied at present, and therefore has no reliable evidence base. But despite this, it is customary to identify a number of factors that stimulate its occurrence.

1. Age. Most often glioblastoma of the brain is diagnosed in males, whose age varies from 40 to 60 years;
2. Other associated tumors. So, for example, an astrocytoma can be the primary focus of the spread of cells that undergo changes.
3. Craniocerebral trauma and genetic predisposition. These circumstances can be a starting point in the occurrence of glioblastoma.

Glyoblastoma: Symptoms

Clinical manifestations of the disease are directly dependent on the damage to specific structures of the brain and the location of the malignant tumor. One of the first manifestations of the disease is headaches, mainly in the frontal and temporal region. Painful sensations are of high intensity, permanent character, have the property of intensifying with coughing, sneezing, physical exertion and do not subside after taking painkillers, vascular or antispasmodics. A distinctive feature of headaches is a significant increase in their intensity in the mornings. This is explained by the accumulation of fluid in the brain tissues due to a violation in the horizontal position of the outflow from the head. Symptoms of glioblastoma are also vomiting and nausea, not associated with meals. Many patients with this illness note increased fatigue, drowsiness and general weakness. Hearing impairment and visual function may result from damage to the auditory or optic nerve with swollen tissues and tumor-like formation. In the event of the defeat of the speech center, there is a violation of the speech function and the inability to transform one's own thoughts into a coherent speech.

Disorders of mental nature are manifested in the form of apathy, general weakness and inhibition. In patients diagnosed with "glioblastoma of the brain of the 4th degree", confusion is often observed , in which a person does not understand well where he is and what happens to him, and also does not react to events around him.

The disease can be accompanied by paralysis of a particular part of the body, a disorder of sensitivity. There are also hallucinations, which in the majority are not visual, but auditory and tactile. Glyoblastoma, the symptoms of which are numerous, in 10% of patients it is capable of provoking the development of epileptic seizures.

Degrees of glioblastoma

Based on the presence of certain signs, glioblastoma is divided into 4 degrees of malignancy. So, the 1 st degree, in fact, is the boundary between benign and malignant processes. 2 nd degree is inherent in one of the signs of malignancy, in the role of which, as a rule, cellular atypia acts. Tumors of the first two degrees grow slowly, and therefore they are considered to be the least malignant neoplasms. The third degree is characterized by the presence of two signs of malignancy, however, the flow of necrotic processes is not characteristic for it. The growth of tumors is quite fast. Glioblastoma of the brain of the 4th degree is characterized by the intensity of growth and is considered the most dangerous, in most cases incompatible with life neoplasm.

Diagnosis of glioblastoma

The diagnosis of "glioblastoma" is made after using modern methods of examination. Most often, magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography are used for this purpose. Also, the presence of this disease will help and magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The most effective method for detecting tumor recurrence is positron-emitting tomography.

But at the same time it should be noted that the glioblastoma of the brain, without a homogeneous structure, often takes various forms. As a result, during a single study, the probability of detecting a low level of malignancy, not corresponding to the entire tumor, is great. The most reliable data allow to obtain a stereotactic biopsy with subsequent histological examination.

Methods of treatment

After we found out what manifestations and methods of diagnosis have such a disease as glioblastoma, that it is necessary to urgently treat it, there is no doubt that no one has any doubts. The main task of medical measures is to remove the primary focus. A radical, but at the same time effective method of therapy is considered to be the removal of this education by surgical means. Usually, in order to prevent the further development of the tumor, along with the affected areas, the nearby healthy tissues are also removed. However, such manipulation with glioblastoma is rather difficult, since every millimeter of nervous tissue is very important for the work of the whole organism.

After the surgical removal of the patient, chemotherapy is used to prevent a possible relapse. As an additional method of treatment, radiation therapy can be used, the main task of which is to remove the remaining tumor cells after surgery. A new method of controlling glioblastoma is photodynamic therapy. The procedure is based on irradiation of malignant cells with a laser. This method is usually used to treat neoplasms located in vital areas of the brain.

Forecast and consequences

For patients with a diagnosis of glioblastoma, the prognosis is, unfortunately, unfavorable. Even with intensive treatment , the life expectancy of patients, as a rule, is not more than 5 years. This is due to the following factors:

1. In 80% of cases after the operation there are relapses of the disease.
2. The rapid growth of the neoplasm in the closed space of the skull leads to compression of the brain structures, its edema, impaired breathing and circulation.
3. Development of severe neurological defects, in which a person loses his elementary ability to self-service and movement. With the diagnosis of "glioblastoma," the photo of patients causes great pity, since people, exhausted by the disease, literally become not similar to themselves.

In most cases, glioblastoma of the brain ends with a fatal outcome. But timely diagnosis and timely operation significantly increase the chances of a full life.

The last months of life

Patients with a terrible diagnosis of "glioblastoma 4 degrees" live out their lives in real pain. They are pursued by severe headaches , mental disorders, epileptic seizures, mental disorders, paralysis, occurring against a background of lack of strength and general weakness.

Having considered the peculiarities of such an ailment as glioblastoma, that this is a most serious disease - there is no doubt. But, unfortunately, patients with such a diagnosis can only believe that the best minds of medicine will soon develop an effective cure for cancer.