Treating unspecified gliomas

The World Health Organization discourages the diagnosis of tumours as unspecified glioma, mixed glioma or even oligoastrocytoma because they are too vague and unhelpful in finding the right treatment. There are a number of genetic marker tests (to test for IDH mutation and 1p/19q codeletion) which could determine whether a tumour is more like an astrocytoma or oligodendroglioma. Once the tests are done, your MDT will either treat the tumour as they would an oligodendroglioma or astrocytoma.

If you are diagnosed with an unspecified glioma, your team of specialists will treat your tumour according to what other type of brain tumour it most resembles to on scans and what type of cells are involved if it is possible to know. For example, if the tumour seems to be diffuse, which means it stretches into surrounding healthy tissue in a tentacle-type way, your team may want to treat the tumour with the maximum doses of chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. If the tumour has well defined borders and seems not to be showing signs of growth, your team may choose to take a less aggressive treatment approach.