Glioma tumors

Astrocytomas

• Nonresponsive to chemo

• Diffuse/fibrillary astrocytomas
  

  • These are more commonly seen (80% of adult primary brain tumors) and kill, not from metastasis, but from relentless growth (brain tumors need not metastasize to be considered malignant, as their presence is bad enough)

  • Usually in cerebral hemispheres

  • Diagnosis in late middle age after presentation with seizures and H/A

  • Have a tendency to progress to worse types (see a few bullets down)

  • Very infiltrative and blend right into brain tissue

  • Have a tendency to cross the midline and involve the white matter on both sides of the brain (“butterfly appearance”)

  • 3 types

    • Low-grade

      • Some nuclear atypia but no mitoses or vasculature

      • Least deadly of the 3

    • Anaplastic

      • See mitoses and increased cellularity

      • Can be classified as this if one mitotic figure is seen

    • Glioblastoma multiformes
      

      • Must see necrosis or vascular endothelial proliferation in the tumor

      • Bad prognosis – death usually within 6-7 months

Category: Pathology Notes