Diagnostics and treatment of glioblastoma in Germany

The best doctors and scientific luminaries are working on the problem of identifying the main causes of glioblastoma. The connection of the disease with the influence of gadgets or different viruses is not currently proven. Doctors also found that glioblastoma is not a hereditary disease that is transmitted at the gene level.

Diagnostics and treatment of glioblastoma in Germany

The best doctors and scientific luminaries are working on the problem of identifying the main causes of glioblastoma. The connection of the disease with the influence of gadgets or different viruses is not currently proven. Doctors also found that glioblastoma is not a hereditary disease that is transmitted at the gene level. So far, it is generally accepted that this type of malignancy is a purely individual “breakdown” associated with malfunctioning of brain cells. It occurs due to different internal processes in a particular person.

What types of brain tumors exist?

Among the entire oncology, brain tumors occupy about 1.5-2%. Their classification is very complicated, it has more than 100 points. Volumetric processes can be divided into several large groups:

• Firstly, these are tumors that grow directly from the cells of the brain substance. They can be of varying degrees of malignancy.
• The second group is tumors that grow from the membranes of the brain. They, too, can be of varying degrees of malignancy, but most, after all, are benign.
• The third group – tumors growing from the pituitary gland. Clinically, they manifest themselves in different ways. The course of the disease depends on in which area of ​​the pituitary gland the tumor grows, and the production of which hormones is impaired.
• There are tumors growing from the cranial nerves.
• There are embryonic brain tumors. Mostly, they are diagnosed in children and very often are malignant, because they consist of poorly differentiated cells.
• Another large section is metastases brought into the brain from the outside. For example, this can be cancer of the lung, breast, kidney, thyroid gland, stomach and other organs.

Some symptoms of glioblastoma

Symptoms of glioblastoma (GBM) are diverse and depend on the size, location and growth rate of the tumor. They include headache, vomiting, confusion, weakness, numbness of the extremities, dizziness, cramps and loss of balance. If notice this kind of symptoms, please, consult your doctor to determine the cause. Head tumor brain and other neurological diseases can cause similar symptoms.

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What are angiogram, EEG and MRI?

Diagnostics for GBM include an angiogram that shows blood vessels of the brain and helps the surgeon to determine the proximity of the tumor to the main of them. Electroencephalogram (EEG) is a test of the brain electrical activity that helps in establishing an epileptogenic focus or other abnormalities in the electrical activity of the brain. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) helps in pre-diagnostic determination and in three-dimensional assessment of the tumor location and its correlation with the critical structures of the brain.

Which doctor should I go to?

We recommend that you consult a doctor experienced in the field of brain cancer, such as neuro-oncologist, oncologist or neurosurgeon. Treatment of glioblastoma in Germany is carried out in centers where doctors of various specialties, neurosurgeons, neurooncologists, neuroradiologists and neuropathologists work.

What are the treatments for GBM?

Modern treatment methods give hope for recovery to patients with GBM. Usually treatment includes surgery followed by radiation and chemotherapy. However, in some cases, radiation and chemotherapy may be contraindicated due to severe side effects. In addition to standard treatment methods, there are others, such as vaccination and targeted therapy.

If possible, the surgeon tries to remove as much of the cancerous tumor as possible to reduce pressure on surrounding tissues without damaging the basic brain functions. In most cases, craniotomy or dissection of the cranial cavity with subsequent removal of the tumor is an effective treatment for GBM. At the end of the operation, the integrity of the skull is restored and the patient stays in the intensive care unit for careful monitoring.

A biopsy and / or resection can be performed during the surgery.

What is a biopsy and resection?

A biopsy is a surgical operation in which a neurosurgeon takes a small part tumors per sample. After this the pathologist examines the tissue using a microscope or laboratory genetic tests. The pathologist makes a diagnosis based on which the neurosurgeon or the oncologist decides on further treatment or tumor resection. Resection is surgery to remove the tumor in which the neurosurgeon cuts out maximum volume of a tumor.