Oligodendroglioma tumors

The first symptom of an oligodendroglioma brain tumor may be a seizure. About 60% of people have a seizure before they’re even diagnosed with this tumor. At Advocate Health Care, our neurosurgeons and neuro-oncologists have extensive experience in treating brain tumors. We regularly use the latest treatments that target cancer cells and minimize harm to normal tissues.

What is an oligodendroglioma?

An oligodendroglioma tumor is a primary brain tumor that usually occurs in the frontal lobe (front) or temporal lobe (sides) of the brain. It gets its name because the cells in these tumors resemble a type of normal brain cell called an oligodendrocyte.

Research shows that oligodendroglioma brain tumors don’t start out as oligodendrocyte cells. Ongoing studies are searching for what kind of cells they grow from. We do know that they grow from a type of brain cell called a glial cell, so oligodendroglioma tumors fit into the category of glioma tumors along with astrocytomas and ependymomas.

Research also shows that oligodendroglioma tumors start from different cells in adults than they do in children. While they’re the third most common primary brain tumor in adults, they’re rare in children.

Oligodendroglial tumors of the brain are slightly more common in males than in females and more common in White people and non-Hispanic people.

Types of oligodendroglioma tumors

Oligodendroglioma tumors are currently divided into two types. The type of cell is determined through biomarker testing of cancer cells and what the cells look like under a microscope.

• Grade 2 tumors: Are slow-growing, may invade nearby normal tissue and may have no symptoms.
• Grade 3 tumors: Are malignant (cancerous) and fast-growing.

Due to ongoing changes in classifications, your doctor may use different terms to describe your tumor. You can count on them for the most up-to-date descriptions and information, including information about what to expect from treatment.

One term that has been associated with oligodendrogliomas is anaplastic oligodendroglioma. Many experts no longer use the term anaplastic when describing oligodendroglioma brain tumors.

Symptoms depend on the location and size of the oligodendroglial tumor of the brain. The first symptom is often a seizure. Other potential oligodendroglioma symptoms include:

• Headaches
• Problems with thinking and memory
• Weakness
• Numbness
• Problems with balance and movement

Even when they’re cancerous, oligodendroglioma tumors usually doesn’t spread beyond the brain.

Oligodendroglioma diagnosis

To reach a diagnosis for your potential oligodendroglioma tumor, your doctor is likely to refer you to an experienced neuro-oncologist or neurosurgeon. These specialists will gather your medical history, ask about the duration of your symptoms and perform a physical. The physical includes tests that look for neurological signs of problems related to your potential oligodendroglioma symptoms.

Imaging tests such as an MRI or CT may be ordered to gain more information about the location and size of any potential tumor.

Oligodendroglioma treatment

Surgery is often the first choice for treatment of a tumor suspected to be an oligodendroglioma. Surgery is done to remove as much of the oligodendroglioma brain tumor as possible and gather tissue to use as a biopsy. The biopsied tissue will be examined by an experienced neuropathologist to help verify the type of the tumor.

Part of the biopsied tissue will be used for biomarker testing to check for mutations or other changes in the genes in the cancer cells. The tests look for details about the cancer cells, including:

• Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation – IDH is an enzyme found in cells
• Changes in specific chromosomes in cells of the tumor – known as 1p/19q codeletion

Combining the IDH mutation, chromosome changes and the appearance of the cells confirms the oligodendroglioma diagnosis. Finding differences in details like IDH mutation also helps your health care team choose the most effective treatments and medications.

After surgery, your doctor will decide whether to recommend other treatments based on your age and general health, how much tumor remains, and the tumor’s type and location.

Radiation therapy or chemotherapy may be recommended after tumor surgery when:

• The entire tumor wasn’t removed
• Testing indicates the tumor is likely to come back

Your doctor may also recommend treatments available through cancer clinical trials that offer options such as new chemotherapy drugs, targeted therapy or immunotherapy.

Medications for symptoms & side effects

If you have seizures that continue after surgery, your doctor may prescribe anti-seizure medication. If you have swelling near the tumor, you may receive steroids to help reduce the swelling.

Your doctor may also recommend medication to deal with nausea or other side effects from chemotherapy or radiation therapy treatments.

Monitoring and follow-up

Your doctor will recommend regular MRI screenings after your treatment is finished. After each screening, they’ll evaluate your results to see if any remaining tumor has grown or if tumors have come back.

If you notice symptoms returning or have side effects from any medications, let your doctor know as soon as possible.

People who are taking medication for seizures also need to be monitored for the effectiveness of the medication and any possible side effects.