Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma
The DIPG is one of the rarer forms of brain stem gliomas.
Characteristics:
Symptoms:
Treatment:
"These tumors are treated with radiation therapy, which are high-energy X-rays that destroy tumor cells. This treatment can reduce symptoms significantly, but there may be some permanent damage caused by the tumor which can’t be helped. Steroids, another type of drug, are often given to improve some of the symptoms. Surgery is not part of the standard treatment because the tumor has grown within a part of the brain where resection is impossible. The effectiveness of chemotherapy is still uncertain" ("Reflections of Grace Foundation")
Information from
Reflections of Grace: http://www.reflectionsofgrace.org/index.php/diffuse-intrinsic-pontine-glioma-dipg.html
Characteristics:
- Located in the pons
- Normally forms in children aged 5 to 10
- Grows in between and around normal cells
- Difficult to treat because of it's location
- Accounts for 5 out of every 100 brain stem gliomas diagnosed
Symptoms:
- Muscle weakness on one side of the body,
- Swallowing problems
- Speech problems
- Crossed eyes
- Drowsiness
- Hearing loss
- Personality changes
Treatment:
"These tumors are treated with radiation therapy, which are high-energy X-rays that destroy tumor cells. This treatment can reduce symptoms significantly, but there may be some permanent damage caused by the tumor which can’t be helped. Steroids, another type of drug, are often given to improve some of the symptoms. Surgery is not part of the standard treatment because the tumor has grown within a part of the brain where resection is impossible. The effectiveness of chemotherapy is still uncertain" ("Reflections of Grace Foundation")
Information from
Reflections of Grace: http://www.reflectionsofgrace.org/index.php/diffuse-intrinsic-pontine-glioma-dipg.html
