The treatment option usually depends on the size, histological type, and anatomic location of the tumor, as well as the presence or absence of metastasis. A biopsy is essential to determine exactly what type of tumor cell is present. Surgery Surgery may eliminate the tumor entirely, or it may minimize the number of tumor cells in order to maximize the efficiency of chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
Infiltrative lesions require further treatment, which is based upon histology.
Generally, gliomas are infiltrative tumors and surgical intervention does not eradicate the entire tumor. If the tumor is located in an inaccessible area such as the brain stem, medulla, pons or corpus callosum, surgery is not an option. Surgical tumor size reduction may be used palliatively to relieve symptoms. A craniotomy is a surgical opening into the skull. This opening may be used to access the tumor.