Glioma brain tumours

Leading HCA neurosurgeons can diagnose and remove a glioma brain tumour using advanced techniques

Find a Glioma brain tumours consultant

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About gliomas

Gliomas are brain tumours starting from the glial cells, which support the neurons/nerve cells in the brain.
There are three types:

Astrocytoma: develops from cells of the brain supporting the nerve cells
Oligodendroglioma: develops from a fatty white substance surrounding nerves
Ependymoma: come from the fluid filled areas of the brain

Need to know

Symptoms of Glioma brain tumours

Gliomas can be slow (low grade) or fast growing (high grade). Common signs and symptoms of gliomas include: seizures and headaches confusion and memory loss vision and speechproblems difficulty balancing incontinence mood swings and irritability

Diagnosis

A consultant neurologist will discuss your symptoms and help make a diagnosis. They may recommend the following tests: neurological exam:your vision, hearing, balance and coordination will be checked. MRI scan: this displays changes in brain tissue. A contrast dye may be used to help display brain tissue more clearly. biopsy: guided by CT or MRI imaging, a small hole is drilled into the skull and a sample of tissue collected. This helps to determine whether the glioma is cancerous (malignant) or non cancerous (benign), so your consultant can start planning treatment.

Potential treatment options

Your consultant will discuss your treatment options with you. They may recommend a craniotomy or computer assisted surgery to remove as much of the glioma as possible. You may be awake during the surgery and you may be asked to move your limbs or speak. This is to ensure areas controlling function (such as movement) are not damaged. If the glioma is cancerous, you will receive treatment from the oncology unit.

State-of-the-art intraoperative MRI for neurosurgery

As part of HCA Healthcare UK’s continued investment in the latest medical technology, The Wellington Hospital’s Neurosurgery Centre is now equipped with an intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI) scanner and fully integrated digital theatre.

The iMRI scanner allows surgeons to carry out an intraoperative MRI scan of their patient’s brain during their surgery. This gives the surgeon confidence that they have achieved their treatment goal. It also provides our patients with the best possible chance of tumours being removed fully without the need for further surgery.

Find out more about iMRI