Malignant Gliomas

 Malignant gliomas are the type of tumor in the brain and spinal cord. Gliomas may occur in the brain and at various locations in the nervous system including the brain stem and spinal column. Gliomas begin in the gluey cells that surround the nerve cells and help them function. Three types of glial cells may cause tumors. Gliomas are defined by the type of glial cell involved in the tumor, as well as the genetic characteristics of the tumor, which may help determine how the tumor may behave over time, and the therapies that are most likely to succeed. Malignant gliomas consist of glioblastomas, anaplastic astrocytomas, anaplastic oligodendrogliomas and anaplastic oligoastrocytomas, and some less common tumors such as anaplastic ependymomas and anaplastic gangliogliomas. Malignant gliomas have high morbidity and mortality. There is now a critical need for quantitative methods that can sensitively diagnose malignant glioma response after proper diagnosis and implementation of appropriate therapy.