Oligodendrogliomas

Grades of oligodendroglial tumors include:

Anaplastic oligodendroglioma (Grade 3):
An anaplastic oligodendroglioma grows quickly and spreads into nearby tissues. The tumor cells look different from normal cells. This type of tumor usually cannot be cured.

Oligodendroglioma (Grade 2):
An oligodendroglioma grows slowly, but often spreads into nearby tissues. The tumor cells look similar to normal cells. In some cases, an oligodendroglioma can be cured.

Oligodendrogliomas are most likely to be diagnosed in adults, although they do occur in young children. In rare cases, this tumor can spread within the central nervous system, in the fluid that circulates throughout the brain and spinal cord.

Because of their generally slow growth, oligodendrogliomas are often present for years before being diagnosed. The most common symptoms are seizures, headaches and personality changes. Other symptoms vary by the location and size of the tumor.

Tumors of the frontal lobe may cause weakness on one side of the body, personality or behavior changes and difficulty with short-term memory. Temporal lobe tumors are usually “silent,” causing few symptoms other than perhaps seizures or language problems.

The exact cause of most oligodendrogliomas is not known, but researchers are still investigating. Most of these tumors occur in adults ages 50 to 60, and are found in men more often than women.