Visual Pathway Glioma
Gliomas are central nervous system tumors arising from glial cells. Most gliomas are in the brain, but at times they also affect the spinal column and other nerves. When the optic nerves are affected, the resultant tumor is called a visual pathway glioma.
A visual pathway glioma may be further classified by which of the four types of nerve-system cells they most resemble: ependymomas, astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas, or mixed type. The more important classification, however, is whether the visual pathway glioma is a low grade or high grade tumor. Low grade visual pathway gliomas are slower growing and less aggressive. A high grade glioma, on the other hand, is often fast-growing and invasive, making metastasis to the spinal cord likely. Even after excision, high grade gliomas typically grow back.
Visual pathway gliomas, whether removed or left alone, typically result in blindness in the affected eye. Few patients with high grade gliomas of any type survive more than three years, but those with low grade gliomas may survive quite a long time, even without aggressive treatment. Symptoms of either type of visual pathway glioma include headaches, nausea, vomiting, seizures, and a loss of vision, either totally or to a significant degree.
Web Resources On Visual Pathway Glioma
What is childhood visual pathway glioma?
Childhood Visual Pathway and Hypothalamic Glioma
Book Resources On Visual Pathway GliomaThe Official Parent's Sourcebook On Childhood Visual Pathway And Hypothalamic Gliomas by Icon Health Publications
Visual Fields via the Visual Pathway by Fiona Rowe
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