Oligodendroglioma is a growth of cells that starts in the brain or spinal cord. The growth, called a tumor, begins in cells called oligodendrocytes. These cells make a substance that protects nerve cells and helps with the flow of electrical signals in the brain and spinal cord.

Oligodendroglioma is most common in adults, but it can happen at any age. Symptoms include seizures, headaches, and weakness or disability in a part of the body. Where this happens in the body depends on which parts of the brain or spinal cord are affected by the tumor.

Treatment is with surgery, when possible. Sometimes surgery can't be done if the tumor is in a place that makes it hard to reach with surgical tools. Other treatments may be needed if the tumor can't be removed or if it's likely to come back after surgery.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of oligodendroglioma include:

• Balance problems.
• Changes in behavior.
• Memory problems.
• Numbness on one side of the body.
• Problems speaking.
• Problems thinking clearly.
• Seizures.

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment with a doctor or other healthcare professional if you have ongoing symptoms that worry you.

Causes

The cause of oligodendroglioma often isn't known. This tumor starts as a growth of cells in the brain or spinal cord. It forms in cells called oligodendrocytes. Oligodendrocytes help protect nerve cells and help with the flow of electrical signals in the brain.

Oligodendroglioma happens when oligodendrocytes develop changes in their DNA. A cell's DNA holds the instructions that tell the cell what to do. In healthy cells, the DNA gives instructions to grow and multiply at a set rate. The instructions tell the cells to die at a set time. In tumor cells, the DNA changes give different instructions. The changes tell the tumor cells to grow and multiply quickly. Tumor cells can keep living when healthy cells would die. This causes too many cells.

The tumor cells form a growth that may press on nearby parts of the brain or spinal cord as the growth gets bigger. Sometimes the DNA changes turn the tumor cells into cancer cells. Cancer cells can invade and destroy healthy body tissue.

Risk factors

Risk factors for oligodendroglioma include:

• History of radiation exposure. A history of radiation to the head and neck can increase a person's risk.
• Adult age. This tumor can happen at any age. But it's more often found in adults in their 40s and 50s.
• White race. Oligodendroglioma happens most often in white people who don't have Hispanic ancestry.

There is no way to prevent oligodendroglioma.

Diagnosis

Tests and procedures used to diagnose oligodendroglioma include::

• Neurological exam. During a neurological exam, you're asked about your signs and symptoms. Your vision, hearing, balance, coordination, strength and reflexes are checked. Problems in one or more of these areas may give clues about the part of the brain that could be affected by a brain tumor.
• Imaging tests. Imaging tests can help determine where the brain tumor is and its size. MRI is often used to diagnose brain tumors. It may be used with special types of MRI, such as functional MRI and magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

• Removing a sample of tissue for testing. A biopsy is a procedure to remove a small sample of tissue from the tumor for testing. When possible, the sample is removed during surgery to remove the tumor. If the tumor can't be removed with surgery, a sample might be collected with a needle. Which method is used depends on your situation and the location of the tumor.

  The tissue sample goes to a lab for testing. Tests can show what types of cells are involved. Special tests can show detailed information about the tumor cells. For example, a test may look at the changes in the tumor cells' genetic material, called DNA. The results tell your healthcare team about your prognosis. Your care team uses this information to create a treatment plan.

Treatment

Oligodendroglioma treatments include:

• Surgery to remove the tumor. The goal of surgery is to remove as much of the oligodendroglioma as possible. The brain surgeon, who also is called a neurosurgeon, works to remove the tumor without harming healthy brain tissue. One way to do this is called awake brain surgery. During this type of surgery, you're awakened from a sleeplike state. The surgeon might ask questions and monitor the activity in your brain as you reply. This helps show the important parts of the brain so the surgeon can avoid them.

  Other treatments may be needed after surgery. These might be recommended if any tumor cells remain or if there's an increased risk that the tumor will come back.

• Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy uses strong medicines to kill tumor cells. Chemotherapy is often used after surgery to kill any tumor cells that might remain. It can be used at the same time as radiation therapy or after radiation therapy is finished.

• Radiation therapy. Radiation therapy uses powerful energy beams to kill tumor cells. The energy can come from X-rays, protons or other sources. During radiation therapy, you lie on a table while a machine moves around you. The machine sends beams to exact points in your brain.

  Radiation therapy is sometimes used after surgery and may be combined with chemotherapy.

• Clinical trials. Clinical trials are studies of new treatments. These studies give you a chance to try the latest treatment options. The risk of side effects may not be known. Ask a member of your healthcare team whether you can participate in a clinical trial.
• Supportive care. Supportive care, also called palliative care, focuses on providing relief from pain and other symptoms of a serious illness. Palliative care specialists work with you, your family and members of your healthcare team to provide extra support. Palliative care can be used at the same time as other treatments, such as surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Preparing for an appointment

Make an appointment with a doctor or other healthcare professional if you have any symptoms that worry you. If your health professional thinks you might have oligodendroglioma, you'll likely be referred to a specialist. This might be a doctor who specializes in cancer, called an oncologist. You also may see a surgeon that specializes in operating on the brain and spinal cord, called a neurosurgeon.

Appointments can be short, so being prepared can help. Here's some information that may help you get ready.

What you can do

When you make the appointment, ask if there's anything you need to do ahead of time, such as fasting before having a specific test. Make a list of:

• Your symptoms, including any that seem unrelated to the reason for your appointment.
• Key personal information, including major stresses, recent life changes and family medical history.
• All medications, vitamins or other supplements you take, including the doses.
• Questions to ask your health professional.

Take a family member or friend along, if possible, to help you remember the information you're given.

For oligodendroglioma, some basic questions to ask your healthcare professional include:

• Do I have cancer?
• If the tumor isn't cancerous, do I still need to have it removed?
• Do I need more tests?
• What are my treatment options?
• What are the potential complications of these treatment options?
• Do any of the treatments cure my cancer?
• Can I have a copy of my pathology report?
• How much time can I take to consider my treatment options?
• Are there brochures or other printed materials that I can take with me? What websites do recommend?
• What would happen if I chose not to have treatment?

Don't hesitate to ask other questions.

What you can do in the meantime

Avoid doing anything that seems to worsen your signs and symptoms.