Glioma is a type of malignant brain tumor. This cancer is most often found in short-nosed dogs, which are also called brachycephalic. These breeds include boxers, Boston terriers and French and English bulldogs. Gliomas are also one of the more common type of tumors found in human brains. As these tumors grow, they kill the surrounding healthy brain tissue.
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Types
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Glioma tumors come from the supporting cells of the brain, called glial cells. There are several types of these tumors; they range from slow growing and mostly benign to aggressive. These latter types of gliomas are more resistant to treatment.
Symptoms
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Gliomas can form in any part of the brain; these can affect any brain function, so the symptoms for a brain tumor can vary widely. Basically, any type of neurological problem can be viewed as a possible symptom of a brain tumor. This can include the dog limping or having an odd gait, seizures, odd repetitive behavior (such as constant pacing), change in appetite, head tremors, uncoordination or the dog acting as if he is drunk. The symptoms will usually offer a clue as to in what part of the brain the tumor has formed.
Diagnosis
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An MRI or CT scan of the brain is used to look for a possible brain tumor, such as a glioma. This is done under general anesthesia. If it looks as if there is a tumor (an abscess can also look like a tumor on a scan), then a biopsy of the possible tumor is taken to make sure it is a glioma and to determine what type it is. To do the biopsy, the surgeon will need to drill into the dog's skull while it is under general anesthesia.
Treatment
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Depending on the size and location of the tumor, surgical removal can be an option for treatment. This can only be done if it is in a part of the brain that can be reached safely. This is usually a problem with gliomas because they tend to lie deep within the brain. Radiation is a more common treatment as a way to shrink the tumor and slow its growth. This usually is done by giving 16 doses once daily (except for weekends), and the treatment usually takes about 30 minutes and requires general anesthesia. Chemotherapy is also an option, but most gliomas are too difficult for the drugs to reach that this is usually not a viable option. A steroid such as Prednisone is often used to help with symptoms caused by the tumor because it will reduce the amount of fluid surrounding the tumor, which reduces pressure inside the brain.
Prognosis
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If surgery can completely remove the tumor, and radiation is applied after surgery, then the dog can usually have a close to normal life span depending on what type of cancer is found and how aggressive it is. Radiation therapy alone usually does not put the cancer into remission, but is a way to slow the growth and spread of the cancer. The average dog will survive for about a year following radiation alone. The prognosis varies depending on the type of cancer, the size of the tumor and how severe the symptoms are that it is causing.
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