Oligodendroglioma

What is Oligodendroglioma?

Oligodendroglioma is a rare tumor that occurs in the brain or spinal cord. Gliomas are primary tumors which mean they originate in the brain. Just 3% of brain tumors are Oligodendroglioma. Oligodendroglioma are grouped into two different categories:

• Grade II – slow growing tumor
• Anaplastic grade III – fast growing and malignant

People with Oligodendroglioma have a higher rate of survival than most other brain tumors

What causes Oligodendroglioma? Who is affected?

The causes of Oligodendroglioma are unknown, but a lot of research has been done to see what the underlying causes are. People of all ages are affected by this disease.

What are the symptoms of Oligodendroglioma?

When the tumor is in the frontal lobe symptoms might be:

• Headaches
• Paralysis
• Seizures
• Changes to your behavior and personality
• Memory loss
• Loss of vision

When the tumor is in the parietal lobe symptoms might be:

• Changes to sense of touch
• Problems with coordination and balance
• Difficulty concentrating
• Difficulty reading, writing, and calculating
• Difficulty recognizing and interpreting sensations
• Inability to recognize objects by touching them

When tumors occur in the temporal lobe symptoms might include:

• Loss of hearing
• Inability to understand language and music
• Memory loss
• Hallucinations
• Seizures

How is Oligodendroglioma treated?

Treatment for oligodendroglioma depend on the type, size, and location of the tumor. The most typical treatments are:

• Surgery
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy
• Drug therapy