Prognosis of a glioblastoma

forecast

The prognosis is very unfavorable (poor), since untreated glioblastomas are fatal within a few weeks, and maximum therapy for glioblastomas only leads to a survival time of 6 months to 2 years. The one-year chance of survival is 30-40%, the two-year chance of survival is 10%, the five-year chance of survival is 3%. The two-year chance of survival could already be increased to 26% through improved therapy strategies with increased integration of chemotherapy with the cytostatic agent temozolomide. The main prognostic factors are age and clinical symptoms at the start of therapy. In general, young patients with optimal tumor removal, a good so-called mini-mental state score (dementia score) and a methylated MGMT promoter (DNA repair protein) in connection with temozolomide therapy have a more favorable prognosis.

Read more on the topic: Glioblastoma - course of the individual stages

prophylaxis

Since the risk factors and triggers for the development of glioblastomas are largely unknown, there are no recommendations for prevention.

Summary

The glioblastoma multiforme accounts for 25% of all primary brain tumors. It is highly malignant, often with infiltrating, multi-location (multifocal) growth in the cerebral hemispheres, occasionally on both sides over the bar (butterfly glioma). Due to the formation of pathological vessels, the tumor tends to bleed, which leads to an apoplectic glioma. Symptoms are headache, nausea, paralysis, psychological changes and epileptic fits. The main diagnostic tools are CT and MRI imaging techniques. The therapy includes surgical removal of the tumor as completely as possible with subsequent radiation and chemotherapy. The prognosis is poor with death after an average of 12 months.

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