This is an uncommon variety of brain tumor that affects the oligodendrocyte found in the brain. When viewed under the microscope, the cells give the impression of numerous minute fried eggs. They may appear as normal growing cells but they often develop at a faster rate. These tumors often appear at the frontal, parietal and temporal lobes causing seizures to occur more frequently among its patients. Most of these tumors often have calcium or bone fragments that easily result in bleeding. During the initial stages, the calls may appear as benign but also have the potential to become cancerous. The cancer often affects men more than women, especially those between the age range of 35 to 40.
Oligodendroglioma Tumor Showing a Fried Egg Appearance
Symptoms
This particular disease can cover a variety of symptoms. The symptoms may be mistaken for a stroke but they often progress slowly. Often, by the time the patient consults medical attention, the tumor may already have grown larger. Tumors in the brain such as this can cause varied neurological symptoms depending on the location of the tumor. When the tumor is found in the frontal lobe, it often causes:
- Headache
- Paralysis
- Seizures
- Behavioural and Personality Alterations
- Memory Loss
- Impaired Vision
When it appears in the parietal lobe, it often causes:
- Disturbances in the sense of touch
- Problems with balance and coordination
- Inability to maintain concentration and perception of sensory and visual senses
- Dyslexia – inability to read
- Dysgraphia – inability to write
- Dyscalculia – inability to calculate
- Agnosia – inability to recognize and interpret sensations
- Astereognosia – inability to recognize objects according to touch
When the tumor occurs in the temporal lobe, it often results to:
- Cortical deafness – loss of hearing without injury to ear structure
- Sensory aphasia – Inability to interpret music and language
- Memory loss
- Occurrence of hallucinations
- Seizures
Grading
The grading system for brain tumors is one developed by World Health Organization where it uses the Grade I – Grade IV scale, where Grade I is the mildest and Grade IV is the most serious. Grade II and III cover those conditions that links the two extremes. In this condition’s case, the grading also helps differentiate the two types of oligodendrogliomas.
Grade II
This is a low-grade brain tumor and benign in nature. It develops at a slow pace but can create tumors that have highly distinguishable borders.
Grade III
Although this condition may start as a non-cancerous tumor, it has the potential to be malignant. These tumors are covered in the Grade III scale and are called anaplastic oligodendroglioma. They develop at a faster rate and do not have distinguishable borders.
Grade IV
This grade covers the mixed tumors called malignant astrocytoma-oligodendroglioma. The tumor has grown cancerous and affects the astrocytes and the oligodenrocytes. This scale is the most serious and the one that needs immediate medical attention the most.
Treatment
The treatment process will depend on a myriad of things – general health, extent and location of the tumor and the final diagnosis determined by the neurosurgeon. The treatment plan will rely on such factors and will help recognize which would be most beneficial to the patient. There are many treatment options available; however, not all will prove to be helpful for everybody.
Medications
Steroids will initially be given to reduce the vascularity and swelling surrounding the tumor. Anti-convulsants may also be given to those patients who are experiencing seizures and those prone to having them.
Surgery
The most recommended technique for treating oligodendroglioma is through surgery. This is often the treatment choice for brain tumors that are low grade in nature and are covered in the Grade I and Grade II scale. However, brain surgeries aren’t fool-proof when it comes to completely removing the tumor, thus there is a need to employ other therapies to avoid reoccurrence of the tumor.
Radiotherapy
The use of rays that have high energies is called radiotherapy. It is usually referred to as the back-up plan after a surgery to help kill any fragments of the tumor left from the surgery. It can also be used to address tumors that are malignant and those that have the potential to become malignant.
Chemotherapy
This treatment choice is done before and after radiotherapy and makes use of cytotoxic drugs to help kill cancer cells. It can be done to help shrink the brain tumor, especially for those that can’t be surgically removed. It is also recommended for reoccurring cases and malignant tumors.
Prognosis
Prognosis for oligodendroglioma tumors may depend on the grading scale the tumor is in. Patients diagnosed and intervened upon earlier have a higher chance of survival. For a treatment plan to be successful, several techniques should be employed to guarantee a reduced chance or reoccurrence of the tumor.
Survival Rate and Life Expectancy
Compared to other brain tumors, such as the common astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma has a higher survival rate. With the many treatment options available, it is possible to prolong the life of one who has this disease, although not always capable of totally removing the disease. The life expectancy of the person with such a tumor depends on the grade of the tumor and the soonest the treatment plan is put to action. Those that have Grade II brain tumors are more likely to live for 12 more years. Meanwhile, for those that have Grade III brain tumors, they are expected to live with an average of 3.5 years.
Similar Posts:
- Glioblastoma Multiforme – Life Expectancy, Stage 4, Survival Rate, Symptoms, Prognosis
- Spinal Cancer – Symptoms, Prognosis, Survival Rate, Life Expectancy
- Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer – Symptoms, Survival Rate, Life expectancy
- Inoperable Brain Tumor
- Stage 4 Liver Cancer (End Stage) – Life Expectancy, Survival Rate
- Ganglioglioma
- Neuroendocrine Cancer – Symptoms, Treatment, Prognosis, Survival Rate
My step daughter was told that she has anaplastic oligodendroglioma. No biopsy has been performed but they want her to start chemo in two days. I just want to make sure she is getting the best care. I just do not understand how they can be sure the tumor is cancerous without doing a biopsy. She is in Hawaii with her husband who is in the military.
what ever you do , do not let them give her standard radiation.
I have, and live with oligodendroglioma, my tumor dr. likes to call it ‘mass’.. 15-16 cm size of two small oranges. had crainotomy, with biopsy, for definitive diagnosis, and for relief of pressure. dr.s said i was about to strok out.
went on cancer blogs, people that have it. they will share with you and have no other interests. had to wait from middle of march to august to find a hospital that would take my gov. insurance.
when i arrived, wheel chaired me in, i had trouble staying in a chair, would slide out.
arrived august 15 last treatment sept27 I did temodar(chemo pill) and proton radiatio therapy at the same time. any questions heres my email and # jonathan beavers rrts1165@gmail.com 618-346-2252 my treatment in 2012 and i’m still here. we, wife and i live outside of st. louis and i had wonderful neurosurgion. dr. albert kim.;..anyway i can talk forever about this, its with me everyday.. drop me a line or call, help you anyway i can. jonathan beaver
My daughter,44yrs, Has stage 2 oligodendroglioma. We are fighting the insurance company, even though their are 2 nationally known surgeons that say she needs another craniotomy because the first was so poorly done and almost no removal of tumor.
She lives in New Mexico and there is no equipment nor expertise in the state that can do the job.
Where the heck can we go? I’ll sell my house and do whatever it takes to take care of my “child.”
Thank you for any help you can.
If you feel free to talk my phone is 607-844-3128.
Please look into UCSF Dr. Berger he is one of the top Neurosurgeons there.
He is the very best surgeon. He just helped me this November. I am forever grateful to him and his team.
Ron, I can only imagine how freaked out you must be. I had my 2cm x 2cm x 6cm Oligio II surgically resected by my neurosurgeon Dr. Kennedy Yalamanchile at Christiana Hospital in Delware. That was January 20 2006. (yes, 9 yrs ago) The biopsy was done at the Mayo clinic. My Oncology Team is Christiana Care’s Dr. Martha Hosford. She has an office at Union Hopsital ain Elkton MD. I have had all of my MRIs done at Christiana’s Medical Arts Pavilion. I have been to Johns Hopkins for second and third opinions. They have found we have been doing everything right in there opinions. I could not recommend them higher. This past Summer, I had a recurrence. We have hit it with Temodar and localized radiation. The tumor is going back into remission. You need to be where the modern treatments are. Many of them are here. I made some Refrigerator magnets and some Bumper Sticker Decals with some artwork I did a couple years ago and have been giving them to whoever asks for them. I belong to a Facebook Page called “the Bus” were there are MANY like me, and like your Daughter, so you can rest easy knowing she is in good STRONG company. We can steer you to the right Caregivers pages. If you want to see my decals and refrigerator magnets leave your address at ddave4001@yahoo.com and I will gladly send you two samples, one of each. They are FREE. If you like them and want more I will send them to you at whatever the cost of posting them is, because the magnets are so heavy they kind of add up quickly. I was sending them for free before and it quickly added up to a small fortune. There is so little research being done on this type of tumor. There are only 600,00 plus of these things in patients alive today. We need to spearhead this thing and make people AWARE that we exist. So while all Cancers are Important, “GREY MATTERS”
I hope you will take me up on this offer. In fact, anyone is welcome to take me up on this offer. just send your Name and address to my email, I promise, I share email addresses with NO ONE.
When my Tumor came back, of course it was depressing. But even more so then before I was more pissed off. I finally went on disability due to just lack of stamina. And loss of concentration, as well as fragments of half of all the other symptoms they list. And, also because I had other work to do. And that was to “FIGHT THIS SCOURGE” I was a Commercial Artist by trade. I have once more drawn my sword on this beast.
Thanks for hearing me out. Take me up on my offer, you will have never have met someone more sincere. This I can assure you!
David Mangano 443-553-6568 ddave4001@yahoo.com
What was the grade of your Tumor
Hi sir…I am nilesh patel from mumbai..india..
My brother have oligodendroglioma grade 2.. made surgery 2 year ago.. then he take chemo for one year…lastOne month he not ok….now we make mri and got that Tumer grow slow now…and I go for second opinion to otherDoctor..and they say to make operation twise and also take Radiation. ..I want advice that what to do now??I from mumbai india.my emai id : koshiya.nilesh@gmail.comPlease help me if possible. Can it remove completely? Is any special treatment for oligodendroglioma? I attended all reports of my brother. ..please help me if possible. ..
Thank you sir…
Be hopeful. Mine was graded between 3 and 4. Life expectancy was 3 years. I am 18 years now cancer free.