What Is an Oligodendroglioma?

Oligodendroglioma originates from oligodendroglial cells, accounting for 5% -10% of gliomas and 1.3% -4.4% of intracranial tumors. The male to female ratio is 2.13: 1, and it is more common in adults. Tumors are often located in the cerebral cortex or subcortex, and their growth is slow. More than half of the tumors are in the frontal lobe, followed by the parietal lobe and the temporal lobe. They have no envelope, but have clear boundaries with normal brain tissue. The incidence of calcification is high, ranging from 50% to 80%. Bleeding and cystic changes are rare.

Oligodendroglioma

[] Oligodendroglioma [Etiology and Pathology]

[Clinical manifestations]

Occurs in 35-40 years old. The common first symptom is focal epilepsy, and local neurological dysfunction depends on the lesion. Intracranial hypertension often occurs in late stages, and mental symptoms can also occur.

[] Oligodendrocyte Gliomas [Imaging Features]

CT CT findings of oligodendroglioma

It is a slightly high-density mixed mass with clear edges; the cystic area is low-density.

There are calcifications in the tumor, which are striped, spotted or large and irregular, and the curved band calcification is characteristic.

Peritumoral edema is light, and the occupying effect is light.

Enhancement scan showed that the tumor was mildly to moderately enhanced or not enhanced; atypical cases could be characterized by low cortical density, similar to cerebral infarction.

MR MR manifestations of oligodendroglioma

The outline of most tumors is visible, and the edema is slight.

T1 weighted and T2 weighted tumors showed irregular low signal shadows (caused by calcification).

Most tumors are patchy and unevenly intensified.

Malignant patients have obvious edema and enhancement, which is difficult to distinguish from grade III and IV astrocytomas.

[] Oligodendroglioma [Differential diagnosis]

Ganglioglioma: Rare, occurs in children and young people, 80% of them occur under the age of 30, and the incidence of glioma is less deep.

Low grade astrocytoma: the location is usually slightly deep, the tumor density is low, the calcification is less punctiform or patchy, and some patients have hematoma edema.

Meningiomas: The basal plaque is adjacent to the meninges or skull plates, and it is obtuse to the skull. Local skulls may have proliferative changes, and the intratumoral calcification is mostly sand-like. Enhanced scanning shows that the tumors are significantly strengthened.

Vascular malformations: CT can show high density, but calcification is relatively rare and the scope is small, often without a placeholder effect.

Oligodendroglioma Treatment

Oligodendroglioma is a low-grade glioma.

1. Surgical treatment: In the treatment of low-grade gliomas, surgical treatment is necessary. The main goal is to perform progressive histological diagnosis, reduce tumor volume to reduce intracranial pressure, improve symptoms of neurological damage, and prevent malignant changes. Controlling seizures.

2. Immediate postoperative radiotherapy, radiotherapy only for low-grade gliomas with incompletely excised tumors, radiotherapy when recurrence or tumors continue to progress, are considered effective treatment options. ^[1]

Prognosis of oligodendroglioma

Low-grade gliomas have a better prognosis than high-grade gliomas, with an average survival time of 5-10 years, with 10-year survivors accounting for 5% -50%, of which 50% -75% of patients die last In this disease. ^[2]