Glioblastoma

AN AGGRESSIVE TUMOR THAT NEEDS IMMEDIATE TREATMENT.

Glioblastoma – also known as glioblastoma multiforme, or GBM – is the most common form of malignant primary brain tumors in adults. When someone has a primary brain tumor, this means that it began in the brain and not somewhere else in the body and then metastasized to the brain. Approximately 15,000 new cases of GBM are diagnosed every year.

Glioblastoma tumors start from glial cells, which normally help support neurons and repair brain damage from injury. Once the tumor starts growing, it can often be very aggressive and grow into surrounding brain tissue.

Symptoms

Although GBM rarely spreads to other areas of the body, tumors grow quickly. As the tumor grows, it can put increased pressure on the brain, which in turn can cause

Headaches
Nausea and vomiting
Drowsiness

Depending on where the tumor is located, it can also interfere with how the brain controls other parts of the body, which can lead to:

Seizures
Weakness on one side of the body
Difficulty with memory or speech
Changes in vision

Treatment

GBM tumors are aggressive and must be attacked at the source. BSSNY neurosurgeons are experts in using the most advanced surgeries and therapies that target and destroy GBM tumors and stem cells.

These methods include advanced open surgery techniques, as well as Gamma Knife® radiosurgery. In addition, BSSNY is currently conducting a clinical trial for Optune®, which is a highly promising approach to GBM treatment.