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brain stem glioma

(brayn stem glee-OH-muh)
A tumor that forms from cells called glial cells in the brain stem (the part of the brain that is connected to the spinal cord). Glial cells support and protect the nerve cells in the brain and help them work the way they should. Most brain stem gliomas are diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPGs), which are fast-growing tumors that form in a part of the brain stem called the pons. These tumors tend to spread throughout the brain stem and are hard to treat. Brain stem gliomas usually occur in children.
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Anatomy of the brain; the right panel shows the supratentorial area (the upper part of the brain) and the posterior fossa/infratentorial area (the lower back part of the brain). The supratentorial area contains the cerebrum, lateral ventricle and third ventricle (with cerebrospinal fluid shown in blue), choroid plexus, pineal gland, hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and optic nerve. The posterior fossa/infratentorial area contains the cerebellum, tectum, fourth ventricle, and brain stem (midbrain, pons, and medulla). The spinal cord is also shown. The left panel shows the cerebrum, ventricles (fluid-filled spaces), meninges, skull, cerebellum, brain stem (pons and medulla), and spinal cord.Enlarge this image in new window
Anatomy of the brain. The supratentorial area (the upper part of the brain) contains the cerebrum, lateral ventricle and third ventricle (with cerebrospinal fluid shown in blue), choroid plexus, pineal gland, hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and optic nerve. The posterior fossa/infratentorial area (the lower back part of the brain) contains the cerebellum, tectum, fourth ventricle, and brain stem (midbrain, pons, and medulla). The skull and meninges protect the brain and spinal cord.
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