What are the symptoms of late-stage glioma

Many young people lack knowledge about glioma and do not seek medical treatment in time when they feel unwell, which leads to the delay of the disease. Some even seek medical treatment in the late stage. In order to allow more patients to seek medical treatment as soon as possible, I will introduce the symptoms of late-stage glioma.

In the late stage of glioma, there will usually be increased intracranial pressure, headache, vomiting and mental symptoms. On the other hand, due to the compression and infiltration of brain tissue by the tumor, local symptoms will appear, causing neurological damage.

1. Increased intracranial pressure

It can cause papilledema, which can lead to secondary atrophy of the optic nerve and decreased vision over time. Primary optic atrophy occurs when the tumor compresses the optic nerve, which also causes decreased vision. The abducens nerve is easily compressed and pulled, often causing paralysis and double vision.

2. Headache

Most of them are caused by increased intracranial pressure. As the tumor grows, the intracranial pressure gradually increases, compressing and pulling on the pain-sensitive structures in the brain. The headache may mainly occur on the affected side. The headache is intermittent at first, often occurring in the early morning. As the tumor develops, the headache gradually worsens and lasts longer.

3. Vomiting

It is caused by stimulation of the medullary vomiting center or the vagus nerve, and may not cause nausea at first, but is projectile. In children, the headache may not be obvious due to craniosynostosis, and because posterior cranial fossa tumors are common, vomiting is more prominent.

4. Psychiatric symptoms

Some tumors, especially those located in the frontal lobe, may gradually cause psychiatric symptoms such as personality changes, indifference, decreased speech and activity, inattention, memory loss, lack of concern for things, and lack of cleanliness.

5. Epilepsy

Some cancer patients have epilepsy symptoms, which may be early symptoms. Epilepsy that begins in adulthood is generally symptomatic and is mostly caused by brain tumors. Those who are difficult to control with drugs or whose seizures change in nature should be considered to have brain tumors.

6. Local symptoms

Local symptoms will occur according to the location of the tumor, and will progressively worsen. Especially for malignant gliomas, which grow faster, infiltrate and destroy brain tissue, and cause significant surrounding brain edema, local symptoms are more obvious, and the development is also very fast. Tumors in the ventricles or in the quiet areas may have no local symptoms in the early stages. Tumors in important functional areas such as the brainstem will have local symptoms in the early stages, and it will take a considerable amount of time for symptoms of increased intracranial pressure to appear. Patients with advanced gliomas also need treatment to relieve their symptoms and prolong their survival.

Currently, surgery is the best method for treating brain glioma, which can quickly and effectively control the progression of the disease. Once patients experience the above symptoms, they must determine the treatment method as soon as possible to avoid serious consequences.