Glioma is one of the most common types of primary brain tumors. It may differ in malignancy, but in any case it should be treated, including by neurosurgical methods. Neurosurgeons and oncologists in Israel use the most advanced techniques for treating central nervous system cancers using robotic microsurgery, making glioma surgeries less invasive and with very good prognoses for remission and long life.
Risk factors
The causes of uncontrolled pathological division of brain tissue cells and glioma formation have not yet been studied. There are only indirect risk factors for glioma, which are characteristic of almost any type of brain cancer: radiation exposure and high-dose exposure, poor ecology and work in hazardous industries in constant contact with industrial carcinogens.
Among all cases of glioma, about 15-20% are children who were not exposed to any carcinogenic factors. Special pronounced age, gender and racial patterns were not found. However, if someone’s relative has been diagnosed with glioma, Israeli oncologists and neurosurgeons recommend that they regularly undergo a preventive examination due to the early diagnosis program.
Symptoms of glioma
The symptoms of the course of this cancer depends on the location of the tumor and its size, i.e. which parts of the brain were affected.
- Frequent and prolonged headaches that do pass after taking conventional analgesics.
- Convulsive muscle contractions.
- Causeless nausea and vomiting.
- Deterioration of vision.
- Impaired motor skills.
- Difficult speech.
- Changes in behavior.
The peculiarity of glioma is its ability to grow several centimeters deep into the brain with infiltration into different parts of it. This can lead to an expanded clinical picture of the disease, when disorders of vision, speech, hearing, coordination of movements, behavior and mental abilities will be present.
Diagnostics
Clinics and neurosurgical centers in Israel are equipped with state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment that allows not only to accurately diagnose the type of glioma, but also to accurately determine the size and location of the tumor, as well as the degree of damage to brain tissue.
- Laboratory diagnostics to determine the type of tumor.
- Angiography to assess the condition of blood vessels feeding glioma.
- Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography (CT, MRI, and PET).
- A biopsy.
In the process of diagnosis, Israeli doctors assess the condition of the central nervous system, nerve endings and vascular circulatory system in the brain.
Glioma treatment in Israel
The course of glioma treatment in any clinic in Israel is selected collectively by oncologists, neurosurgeons, neurologists, radiotherapists and other highly specialized specialists. The therapeutic course can be combined.
- Minimally invasive surgery under the control of intraoperative MRI with the use of computer navigation and high-precision neurosurgical devices.
- Radiosurgery and radiation therapy – destruction of glioma by radio beams, if traditional neurosurgical methods cannot remove the tumor.
- Gentle chemotherapy with the latest generation of drugs with minimal toxic effects on healthy tissues.
The effectiveness of glioma treatment largely depends on the quality of postoperative rehabilitation – vision correction, restoration of motor skills and overall health promotion. In Israel, all conditions are present for a comfortable full-fledged rehabilitation after the treatment of brain cancer.