brainstem glioma

brain·stem gli·o·ma

a glioma, generally an astrocytoma, arising in the medulla, pons, or midbrain.

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brainstem glioma

A tumour of the pons and medulla between the aqueduct of Sylvius and the fourth ventricle, which comprises ±2.4% of all intracranial tumours in adults and 15% of pediatric brain tumours, which some authors divide into anatomic regions: tectal, cervicomedullary and diffuse intrinsic pontine, which has a poor prognosis.
 
Clinical findings
Diplopia, facial weakness, headache, nausea, vomiting, dysphagia, gait ataxia, hydrocephalus. Symptoms are linked to the space-occupying nature of these tumours. Death may be caused by increased intracranial pressure and herniation.
 
Management
Radiation therapy, chemotherapy.

Mortality
Brainstem gliomas are more indolent in adults than children.
 
Good prognosticators
Neurofibromatosis, symptoms of at least 12-month duration before diagnosis, exophytic location, low-grade histology, focal tectal and cervicomedullary tumours, CT calcification.
 
Poor prognosticators
Younger than 2, multiple brainstem signs, cranial nerve palsies, diffuse pontine lesions of the pons, short duration, high-grade histology.

Segen's Medical Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.

brainstem glioma

Neurology A tumor of the pons and medulla which comprises ±15% of pediatric brain tumors Clinical Double vision, facial weakness, vomiting, gait ataxia Management RT, chemotherapy Mortality Up to 30%

McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.