The Lister Hospital
Chelsea Bridge Road, SW1W 8RH London
Craniotomy for glioma
SURGERY TO REMOVE A BRAIN TUMOUR WHICH ORIGINATES IN THE GLIAL CELLS THAT SURROUND AND SUPPORT NEURONS IN THE BRAIN
Our neurosurgeons can carry out a craniotomy to remove gliomas
About removing a glioma
Gliomas are brain tumours that develop from the ‘supporting’ cells in the brain called glial cells. If you've been diagnosed with a glioma, our neurosurgeons may be able to carry out a surgical procedure, called a craniotomy, to remove it. Unlike benign tumours, gliomas are not well circumscribed and may diffusely infiltrate the brain around the obvious mass seen on scan.
We recognize different ‘grades’ of glioma from I-IV.
- Grade I tumours are truly benign and are normally treated by surgical removal but sometimes radiotherapy is advised.
- Grade II are considered ‘low grade’, they are not truly benign and usually cannot be completely removed. These are slowly growing but have the potential to transform into more malignant rapidly growing tumours
- Grade III and Grade IV. There are also different cell types in gliomas, and the two commonest are astrocytomas (developing from astrocytes) and oligodendrogliomas (arising from oligodendrocytes).
Your consultant will discuss the implications of your diagnosis once the pathology results are available.
Need to know
Your neurosurgeon will start by creating a window in your skull to access your brain. Depending on the location of your glioma (tumour), they'll then aim to remove as much of it as they can.
If the glioma is too close to healthy tissue, they may not be able to remove all of it. At the end of the procedure, your neurosurgeon will put the bone back in place and secure it.
Tissue from the glioma will be sent away to be examined by a pathologist and your consultant will then guide you through your treatment options. A craniotomy for glioma is usually the start of a wider treatment plan, which may involve radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Before your craniotomy for glioma, you'll most likely be asked to attend a pre-operation appointment. Your neurosurgeon will explain what happens during a craniotomy and how to prepare for it.
You'll most likely be asked to limit your food and drink intake in the hours leading up to the procedure, as you'll be receiving a general anaesthetic
After your craniotomy, you'll be taken to our recovery area. Depending on the normal practice of your surgeon, your head may be bandaged. If so, this will normally be removed after two to three days.
You may have a drip placed into your arm to keep you hydrated, and you may also have a catheter inserted into your bladder. These will be removed as soon as you are eating, drinking and mobile.
Your consultant or nurse specialist will let you know when you can leave the hospital. They'll also arrange a follow-up appointment to discuss the results of the glioma biopsies.
Our Craniotomy for glioma locations
The Wellington Hospital
8A Wellington Place NW8 9LE London
The Wilmslow Hospital
52-54 Alderley Road SK9 1NY Wilmslow
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
The Harley Street Clinic
35 Weymouth Street W1G 8BJ London
The Princess Grace Hospital
42-52 Nottingham Place W1U 5NY London
The Shard Outpatients
The Shard, 32 St Thomas Street SE1 9BS London
Chiswick Outpatients
Bond House 347-353 Chiswick High Road W4 4HS London
Chelsea Outpatients - 280 King's Road
280 King's Road SW3 5AW London
Patient stories
Yvette's story: From back pain to hip replacement surgery
Yvette (54) a journalist from Kent, started experiencing pain in her hip seven years ago in 2015. An ex-national gymnast who had been incredibly active and flexible her whole life, Yvette felt concerned about the growing discomfort impacting her quality of life, and so sought help from her GP.
A new hip and straight back into the spin of things
David’s gym video shows him repeatedly pushing up to 100kg on a single leg press – not particularly unusual for this keen cyclist, former competitive squash player and all-round fitness enthusiast. What is unusual is that 52-year-old David had hip surgery just 12 weeks earlier.
Michael's MAKO hip surgery to treat his arthritis
73 year-old Michael, an avid walker and charity worker, was diagnosed with arthritis in January 2021. After facing long waiting times and increasing pain that was becoming more frequent, he started to look elsewhere for treatment.
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.