Clarifying the Diffuse Gliomas

Diffuse low-grade gliomas

Description : Diffuse low-grade gliomas (WHO grade II) are a sub-group of rare and heterogeneous primary brain tumors that usually occur in young patients living a normal life until the onset of a first seizure. A good understanding of the natural history of these gliomas namely: their steady progression, infiltration along white matter fibers and especially the risk of malignant transformation...

Molecular classification of diffuse gliomas.

Diffuse gliomas are the most common primary brain tumors. The current World Health Organization (WHO) brain tumor classification (2007) uses exclusively morphological criteria to separate diffuse gliomas into three main subtypes: astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma, and mixed oligoastrocytoma. The WHO defines mixed oligoastrocytomas as tumors with dual glial cellular components (astrocytic and oligo...

Diagnostic Evaluation of Diffuse Gliomas

The etiopathogenesis of diffuse low-grade gliomas.

The origins of diffuse low-grade gliomas (DLGG) are unknown. Beyond some limited data on their temporal and cellular origins, the mechanisms and risk factors involved are poorly known. First, based on strong relationships between DLGG development and the eloquence of brain regions frequently invaded by these tumors, we propose a "functional theory" to explain the origin of DLGG. Second, the bio...

Diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas: treatments and controversies.

Diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPGs) are a fairly common pediatric brain tumor, and children with these tumors have a dismal prognosis. They generally are diagnosed within the first decade of life, and due to their location within the pons, these tumors are not surgically resectable. The median survival for children with DIPGs is less than 1 year, in spite of decades of clinical trial deve...