A unique resource on glioma leverages advances and firsthand insights to enact meaningful change Glioblastoma (GBM) or glioma is an extremely aggressive and malignant brain tumor, with cell infiltration, rapid invasion, and a high frequency of relapse. The Glioma Book by neurosurgeon Michael Sughrue is a highly personal book — a culmination of two years of writing and more than 1,000 surgeries. It presents a unique viewpoint with the potential to transform the traditional paradigm that too often informs treatment of this universally fatal brain tumor. The book reinterprets the role of the cerebrum and sub-cortex, leverages scientific advances to improve cytoreduction and reduce neurological deficits, and challenges the myth of the "inoperable" glioma. This is the first step-by-step technical guide focused on aggressively resecting different types of gliomas. The book is logically organized, starting with a foundation of fundamental knowledge, then progressing to practical applications. Chapters focus on the skills necessary to perform glioma surgery, specific techniques, and systematic approaches to gliomas in different brain regions. Numerous case examples illuminate concepts introduced earlier in the book and explain how to perform these procedures About 30 high quality videos posted online provide insightful procedural guidance The role of connectomic imaging in visualizing the cerebrum, and other innovative techniques including awake brain mapping and diffusion tensor tractography Neurosurgeons who embrace the concepts in this book will realize they can change the glioma treatment paradigm. Continually improving techniques and viewing a glioma diagnosis as a battle for a patient's life, rather than an exercise in inevitable failure can impart progress in treating this devastating disease.

This book presents the latest research pertaining to the diagnosis, therapy and management of diffuse low-grade gliomas (DLGG) in adults, with a particular focus on the path towards individualised therapy for this kind of tumour. Recent research on the natural history of DLGGs and their interaction with the brain has led to new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies which increase survival and quality of life of the patient, and these methods are described in this book.

This is truly an exciting time in the field of neuro-oncology, particularly in the area of hi- grade gliomas. The management of patients with high-grade gliomas has historically been one of the most challenging and disheartening fields in medicine, where failure is the rule and longevity is the exception. The jaded often state that despite purported advances in surgical and radiotherapeutic techniques and a myriad of clinical trials of medical therapies, the s- vival statistics for glioblastoma have not changed in the last three decades. The nihilism associated with these tumors is such that some practitioners still advise against treatment or even biopsy, recommending palliative care with the diagnosis based only on history and an MRI scan. If the current state-of-the-art in the diagnosis and management of high-grade gliomas was truly so bleak, there would be no reason to compile and publish a monograph on the subject. The fact is that we have recently entered an era where real progress is being made in our understanding and treatment of high-grade gliomas that is directly benefiting some patients. We are slowly but surely chipping away at this problem. One approach has exploited correlations between particular molecular markers and therapeutic response. The first such “breakthrough” in high-grade glioma was the observation that loss of chromosomes 1p and 19q uniformly predict chemosensitivity in anaplastic oligodendrogliomas (1).

New Techniques for Management of 'Inoperable' Gliomas radically challenges the assumption that certain gliomas cannot be removed with modern techniques, contesting stereotypical thinking and establishing new paradigms in the field. Gliomas are primary brain tumors which are often fatal. Recent data has demonstrated that despite the fact that surgery cannot cure gliomas, patient survival is substantially improved by removing as much of the tumor as possible. This fact has raised the imperative that neurologists try to improve techniques to bring surgical resection to as many patients as possible. This book brings new insights and technologies to the forefront, giving hope to patients. - Provides the first comprehensive book to discuss techniques for removing gliomas that are traditionally deemed 'inoperable' - Presents a great reference tool that challenges stereotypical thinking by offering techniques by innovative surgeons - Includes chapters that are organized by different glioma types and surgery/techniques

This book covers physiologic, metabolic and molecular imaging for gliomas. Gliomas are the most common primary brain tumors. Imaging is critical for glioma management because of its ability to noninvasively define the anatomic location and extent of disease. While conventional MRI is used to guide current treatments, multiple studies suggest molecular features of gliomas may be identified with noninvasive imaging, including physiologic MRI and amino acid positron emission tomography (PET). These advanced imaging techniques have the promise to help elucidate underlying tumor biology and provide important information that could be integrated into routine clinical practice. The text outlines current clinical practice including common scenarios in which imaging interpretation impacts patient management. Gaps in knowledge and potential areas of advancement based on the application of more experimental imaging techniques will be discussed. In reviewing this book, readers will learn: current standard imaging methodologies used in clinical practice for patients undergoing treatment for glioma and the implications of emerging treatment modalities including immunotherapy the theoretical basis for advanced imaging techniques including diffusion and perfusion MRI, MR spectroscopy, CEST and amino acid PET the relationship between imaging and molecular/genomic glioma features incorporated in the WHO 2016 classification update and the potential application of machine learning about the recently adopted and FDA approved standard brain tumor protocol for multicenter drug trials of the gaps in knowledge that impede optimal patient management and the cutting edge imaging techniques that could address these deficits

Treatment of patients with intracranial gliomas, especially high-grade neoplasms, usually requires postoperative adjuvant therapy. Significant progress in the understanding of tumor biology, technological advances in irradiation delivery, and development of novel antitumor drugs have led to an expansion of the therapeutic arsenal in neuro-oncology. This publication provides a unique review of the various options for adjuvant therapy. Special emphasis is on current evidence-based treatment standards and guidelines, and on perspectives of further improvement in long-term outcomes. Chapters review the histopathological and molecular features of gliomas and describe basic principles and clinical results of fractionated radiotherapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, brachytherapy, use of radiosensitizers, systemic chemotherapy and antiangiogenic therapy. Particular attention is paid to treatment of pediatric patients and to physical and psychological rehabilitation and supportive care at the end of life. This book and its accompanying volumes are mainly directed at neuro-oncologists, radiation oncologists, and other clinicians treating patients with brain tumors.

Researchers' knowledge of gliomas continues to advance rapidly at both the basic and translational levels, and Gliomas provides a thorough overview of the evolving fields of tumor biology and clinical medicine as they relate to our understanding of brain tumors. Gliomas reviews the current paradigms that underlie these fields, beginning with the molecular epidemiology of glioma susceptibility and prognosis through population-based science and genome-wide association studies. The book's discussion of imaging modalities extends beyond advances in anatomical imaging to include metabolic and physiological studies. This work provides thorough discussion of the clinical view of tumors, ranging from the presentation of the patient to surgical management, and covers all therapeutic options for patient care, including chemotherapy, targeted molecular therapies, immunotherapies, and even personalized approaches to impact the set of lesions. Additionally, the book discusses radiotherapy with regard to the many options available to treat patients using myriad fractionated techniques with various sources. Finally, Gliomas reviews issues specific to the quality of life for patients, and techniques for maximizing the effect of caregivers. Edited and authored by premier researchers from around the world, Gliomas is a comprehensive reference for clinicians and researchers seeking the most up-to-date information on gliomas, and a guide to the best ways to effectively manage glioma patients and their care.