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ChildbrainstemWhat is a glioma?
To be more precise, it is called diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma.,
(In English, diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma: Abbreviation DIPG
It is said that)
Let me explain about this disease.
cerebrum
cerebellum
brainstem
(1) Brain structure
This is an MRI image of the brain.
The brain is made up of the ``cerebrum'' which occupies most of the upper part of the brain, the ``cerebellum'' near the back of the head, and the ``brainstem'' in the middle.
orangeThis part is the brainstem.
midbrain
bridge
medulla oblongata
(2) It is the brainstem.
It's the brain stem.
From the top, they are called the midbrain (yellow), pons (orange), and medulla oblongata (pink).
Important nerves that are essential for life activities are concentrated here, such as motor nerves, facial nerves, nerves that control breathing, and blood pressure.
(3) This is an image of a tumor.
Tumors develop inside this bridge.
"Pediatric brainstem glioma."
The white part is the tumor.
The entire brain stem is greatly swollen.
This tumor is said to be diffuse, meaning that it clings tightly to the nerves that run inside.
Therefore, it is impossible for even the most talented neurosurgeon to surgically remove important nerves without damaging them.
(4) Symptoms of disease
This is an image of a tumor sliced horizontally.
The spread of the tumor can be seen.
Nerves in the brainstem are affected by the tumor,
Facial and eye movements become paralyzed, swallowing becomes difficult, limbs become paralyzed and unsteady, difficulty walking, and eventually difficulty breathing and maintaining blood pressure.
(5) Treatment is radiation
The only treatment is radiation therapy.
This is the globally accepted "standard treatment" for this disease.
Anticancer drugs have little effect.
Radiation is often effective and symptoms improve. Patients can be discharged from the hospital and return to school, etc., but within six months to a year, recurrence occurs and the tumor becomes more malignant and grows. This is due to the strong "resistance" of this tumor.
(6) Relapse and...
There is no established method for treatment after recurrence. Chemotherapy with the drugs Temodar and Avastin is often used, but its effectiveness is limited. It is difficult to stop the tumor, and symptoms gradually worsen.
A drug called ``steroid'' suppresses the inflammation of the tumor and alleviates the symptoms, but this is only a symptomatic treatment and the tumor will continue to grow.
Eventually, it becomes difficult to breathe and maintain blood pressure, leading to death.
*Reference/Yutaka Sawamura's homepage/Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium
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