Democrat Senator Edward Kennedy has been diagnosed with Glioma, a kind of brain tumor. Tests carried out on the 76 -year old politician, after he suffered a seizure during the weekend, revealed a tumor on his left parietal lobe. A biopsy confirmed the diagnosis as malignant Glioma.

A tumor is a mass of abnormal cells. Brain tumors are typically classified as primary or secondary tumors. Gliomas are primary brain tumors that can be slow-growing (benign) or fast growing (malignant).

The type of brain tumors is usually known after the cells within the nerve tissue from which they originate. There are more than 100 different types of brain tumors and the most common of these tumors originate from the supporting glial cells of the brain; hence they are called - gliomas.

Gliomas do not affect tissues outside the nervous system;  do not usually spread  outside the brain and spinal cord.

There are four main types of glioma –

• Astrocytoma,
• Ependymoma,
• Oligo-dendroglioma, and
• Glioblastoma multiforme or GBM.

GBM is a malignant tumor and can spread to other areas of the brain and is usually seen in adults.

Gliomas located in brain stem area are difficult to treat even if they are benign. The brain stem is a critical area of the brain and is responsible for the very essential respiratory mechanism of the body.

Approximately, 9000 to 17,000 Americans are diagnosed with a primary brain tumor, annually.

Sizing Up

Brain tumor diagnosis is usually kick started by a neurologist and may include checks for vision, hearing, balance, reflexes, coordination and reflexes. He may recommend any of the following tests- 

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Scans  / CT scan - These scans generate pictures of the brain that helps in the diagnosis of the glioma or any other tumor.
• Brain Scans, like the Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS), Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) are also employed to assess brain activity and blood flow.
• Angiogram-A special dye is injected into the brain arteries. This helps to locate blood vessels in and around a brain tumor and can be can be picked up on an X-ray 
• X-rays - An X-ray of the head may pick up alterations that are signs of a brain tumor .However, an X-ray is  employed less often as it is less sensitive when compared to a scan.
• Biopsy - A biopsy confirms the presence of a tumor, its type and stage. For this, a portion of the tumor tissue is removed and evaluated under the microscope. A biopsy may be carried out as part of the surgical process or may be done separately. It is useful in determining the optimal treatment for the patient.

Treating Tumors

Gliomas can be complex and doctors have for long found brain tumors a challenge to treat. However, the recent advancements in medicine have enabled these tumors to be targeted and treated precisely.

The successful management of these tumors depends on the size, type and position of these tumors, besides the age and overall health of the patient.