Ganglioglioma is a rare type of cancer that usually affects children or young adults, arising from groups of nerve cells called ganglia in the brain or spine. Symptoms include seizures, headache, and impaired movement. Treatment involves complete removal of the tumor, with a survival rate of 80% or more. If the tumor cannot be completely removed, radiation therapy may be necessary. After surgery, patients may be prescribed steroids to manage swelling, and regular MRI scans are recommended to ensure no traces of the tumor remain.
A ganglioglioma is a very rare type of cancer that most commonly occurs in children or young adults. It could also be called a gangliocytoma or gangioneruoma. This type of tumor arises from groups of nerve cells called ganglia and most often occurs in the brain, but can also occur in the spine. When treated, people who have ganglioglioma have a survival rate of 80 percent or more.
Although some researchers believe that people who have certain genetic disorders may be more likely to develop ganglioglioma, there is no known cause of the condition. A person may have a ganglioglioma for years before the tumor is detected. Symptoms may include seizures, headache, pressure in the skull, lethargy, vomiting, nausea, and impaired movement on one side of the body. A ganglioglioma can be detected through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a computed tomography scan (CT scan), an electroencephalogram, or a combination of the three.
After the diagnosis is confirmed through a biopsy, treatment is usually focused on completely removing the tumor, which leads patients to an almost 100% survival rate. These types of tumors are usually small, benign, and slow-growing, which in some cases allows for complete removal. If a surgeon cannot completely remove the tumor, the patient may need radiation therapy. A ganglioglioma often doesn’t grow back when it’s completely removed, but a person who has been treated for this type of cancer would likely have regular MRI scans to ensure no traces are present.
People who have had surgery to remove ganglioglioma are often prescribed steroids to manage swelling of the brain and tissue after the procedure. After the patient has recovered from surgery, she may often experience relief from any pressure, headaches, seizures, or loss of movement previously caused by the tumor. If the tumor grows back after it’s removed or if the remaining parts of the tumor grow in size, a doctor might prescribe radiation therapy to the site of the tumor. Patients who are to receive radiation therapy may experience tissue swelling, headaches, and impaired coordination as side effects.
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