Glioblastoma - Diagnosis & Treatment

How is glioblastoma diagnosed?

Diagnosis of glioblastoma typically involves:

• Neurological examination and a full medical history to assess a patient's medical condition, brain function and identify neurological deficits
• Imaging tests such as MRI or CT scans, which are crucial for visualising the tumour
• Biopsy or surgical removal of tumour tissue for histopathological examination to confirm the diagnosis and characterise the tumour and to guide further treatment

How is glioblastoma treated?

Treatment for glioblastoma is multifaceted and includes a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. The primary goal of surgery is to remove as much of the tumour as possible while minimising damage to normal brain tissue. Post-surgical treatments may involve:

• Radiation therapy to destroy residual tumour cells
• Chemotherapy, often with the drug temozolomide, to help slow tumour growth
• Targeted therapy and experimental treatments available through clinical trials

Management of symptoms and supportive care are also integral to treatment, focusing on improving quality of life and managing side effects of the disease and its treatment.