What is the basis for diagnosing glioma

Many patients who are diagnosed with glioma feel very strange. They have never heard of this disease. How can they get it? How is it diagnosed? In fact, the entire hospital has its own diagnostic method to confirm whether it has glioma. Today we will talk about what is the basis for diagnosing glioma?

In order to accurately diagnose whether a patient really has glioma, six tests must be performed to make a diagnosis. What are the tests? Let's take a look at them below:

The first item: Ultrasound examination can help determine the side and observe whether there is hydrocephalus. For infants, B-type ultrasound scans can be performed through the anterior fontanelle to show tumor images and other pathological changes.

The second item: EEG examination. The EEG changes of gliomas are, on the one hand, changes in brain waves limited to the tumor site. On the other hand, there are changes in the frequency and amplitude of the general and widely distributed. These are affected by the size of the tumor, infiltration, degree of brain edema, and increased intracranial pressure. Shallow tumors are prone to localized abnormalities, while deep tumors have fewer localized changes. In more benign astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas, etc., localized delta waves are mainly manifested, and some epileptic waveforms such as spikes or sharp waves can be seen. Large glioblastoma multiforme can show extensive delta waves, which can sometimes only be determined on one side.

The third item: Radioisotope scanning: Tumors that grow fast and have abundant blood supply have high blood-brain barrier permeability and high isotope absorption rate. For example, glioblastoma multiforme shows isotope concentration images, and there may be low-density areas in the middle due to necrosis and cysts. It is necessary to distinguish it from metastatic tumors based on its shape and multiplicity.

Item 4: Radiological examination, including skull plain film, ventriculography, CT scan, etc. Skull plain film can show signs of increased intracranial pressure, tumor calcification and displacement of pineal calcification, etc. Ventriculography can show displacement of cerebral blood vessels and tumor blood vessels, etc. These abnormal changes are different in different types of tumors in different locations, which can help locate and sometimes even determine the diagnosis. In particular, CT scan has the greatest diagnostic value, and the intravenous injection of contrast agent to enhance the scanning has a positioning accuracy rate of almost 100%.

Item 5: MRI is more accurate than CT in diagnosing brain tumors, and the images are clearer. It can detect tiny tumors that CT cannot show. Positron emission tomography can obtain images similar to CT, and can observe the growth and metabolism of tumors and distinguish benign from malignant tumors.

Item 6: Cerebrospinal fluid examination and lumbar puncture. Most of the pressure increases. Some tumors, such as those located on the brain surface or in the ventricles, may increase the amount of cerebrospinal fluid protein and the number of white blood cells. Some glioma examinations may show tumor cells. However, if the intracranial pressure increases significantly, lumbar puncture may promote brain herniation. Therefore, it is generally only performed when necessary, such as when it needs to be differentiated from inflammation or bleeding.

The above examination items are used by regular hospitals as the basis for diagnosing glioma. I hope they can help everyone.