Astrocytoma (patient information): Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 48: | Line 48: | ||
[[Category:Neurology]] | [[Category:Neurology]] | ||
[[Category:Oncology]] | [[Category:Oncology]] | ||
[[Category:Patient information]] | |||
[[Category:Neurosurgery patient information]] | |||
[[Category:Neurology patient information]] | |||
[[Category:Oncology patient information]] | [[Category:Oncology patient information]] | ||
[[Category:Mature chapter]] | [[Category:Mature chapter]] | ||
{{WH}} | {{WH}} | ||
{{WS}} | {{WS}} | ||
Revision as of 19:58, 27 July 2011
For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here Template:DiseaseDisorder infobox Template:Search infobox Editor-in-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S.,M.D. [1] Phone:617-632-7753; Editor-In-Chief Patient Information Page: Jinhui Wu, MD
Overview
Astrocytoma is a type of glioma that origins from astrocytes. Astrocytes can support and nourish neurons and help repair the damage when the brain is injured. Astrocytoma occupies 30% of brain tumors.
What are the symptoms of astrocytoma?
Usual symptoms include headache, nausea and vomiting, seizure, hydrocephalus, weakness, or numbness in the extremities. Sometimes astrocytoma may spread along the cerebrospinal fluid pathways, but rare spread outside of the brain or spinal cord.
How to know you have astrocytoma?
Head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the best way for diagnosis.
Treatment options
Treatments include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, gene therapy, or a combination of them. Because most astrocytomas can spread widely throughout the normal brain tissue, it may be very hard to remove by surgery.
Where to find medical care for astrocytoma?
Directions to Hospitals Treating astrocytoma
What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)
Prognosis depends on the grade of the cancer.