Your Notifications
All done, no notifications

What is Glioma?

Gliomas are tumour growths of cells that arise in the spinal cord or brain. Glioma cells are similar to glial cells, which are healthy brain cells. Glial cells support and encompass nerve cells in their function.

A glioma becomes a tumour, which is a collection of cells. The tumour growth can compress the brain or spinal cord, causing symptoms. The location of the affected part of the brain or spinal cord determines the symptoms.

There are many kinds of gliomas. Some are not considered to be malignancies and develop slowly, while others are considered to be malignancies. Malignant is another term that means cancerous. Malignant gliomas can invade normal brain tissue and grow very quickly. Some gliomas are more prevalent in adulthood, while others only occur in children.

Types of glioma

The type of glial cells from which gliomas develop determines their classification. The main glioma types are as follows:

Astrocytoma: This originates from astrocytes, which are star-shaped glial cells. They consist of low-grade tumours, which are less malignant, and high-grade tumours, which are more malignant.

Oligodendrogliomas: Oligodendrocytes, the cells that originate oligodendrogliomas, form the myelin sheath that envelops nerve fibres. These tumours tend to develop more slowly.

Ependymomas: The ependymal cells lining the ventricles of the brain and spinal cord lead to ependymomas. Adults and children can develop them.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is among the most vicious and lethal of brain tumours and is a highly malignant and aggressive type of astrocytoma.

What is the Importance of Timely Treatment?

Glioma should be treated as early as possible to enhance outcomes and quality of life. Early management can achieve minimal symptoms, reduced tumour growth, and potentially enhanced effectiveness of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery. Delaying treatment may make the disease more challenging to manage by increasing pressure in the brain, exacerbating neurological deficits, and enhancing tumour growth. Early treatment may improve the options for personalised treatment, which may strengthen long-term survival.

What are the Common Symptoms of Glioma?

The location of a glioma determines its symptoms. The glioma's size, type, and growth rate may also affect the symptoms.

  • Headache, especially one that is most painful in the morning.
  • Vomiting and nausea.
  • Confusion or deterioration in brain function, including issues with information comprehension and thought processes.
  • Loss of memory.
  • Alterations in personality.
  • Double vision, blurred vision, or loss of peripheral vision.
  • Speech issues.
  • Seizures

Causes and Risk Factors of Glioma

Causes

Studies have shown that gliomas and other spinal cord and brain cancers result from DNA alterations. DNA is found in our genes, which dictate how cells divide and grow. If the DNA of our genes mutates, cells can grow uncontrollably.

Your parents can pass down genetic mutations. They can also co-occur while you're alive.

Risk Factors

  • Age
  • Family history
  • Radiation exposure
  • Environmental factors
  • Weakened immune system

Connect with our advisor for a PRIORITY response

Latest Research and Technologies in the Treatment of Glioma in Thailand

Thailand is enhancing the management of gliomas with the help of advanced techniques, such as awake craniotomy, that ensure precise tumour removal while preserving essential brain function. B7-H3 CAR T cell therapy is among the innovative research undertaken by the Thailand Hub of Talents in Cancer Immunotherapy (TTCI), yielding encouraging outcomes for managing glioblastoma. These efforts prove Thailand's commitment to using cutting-edge surgical and immunotherapeutic procedures in managing gliomas.

Treatment options for Glioma

Brain Cancer Treatment: Depending on the type, size, and location of the tumour, glioma is usually treated with a combination of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery.


Cost Start From USD 22000 - USD 25000Explore Options

Surgery: The first step in treating gliomas is typically to remove the tumour. If the glioma is eliminated, surgery may be the only necessary treatment.

Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy medications are used to kill tumour cells. Chemotherapy drugs are usually given intravenously or orally. Chemotherapy may sometimes be given directly to the glioma cells.


Cost Start From USD 1000 - USD 6800Explore Options

Radiation Therapy: Radiation destroys tumour cells with high-energy beams. The energy source can be protons, X-rays, or something else. After surgery, radiation therapy is often employed to treat gliomas. The radiation kills the leftover glioma cells after surgery. Radiation and chemotherapy are usually combined.

Targeted Therapy: Targeted therapy treatments focus on specific substances in cancer cells. Targeted therapy treatments can kill cancer cells by inhibiting these substances.


Cost Start From USD 3500Explore Options

  • Neurological Exam: A detailed neurological and physical exam to assess for symptoms like weakness, changes in vision, or coordination difficulty.
  • MRI is the most common method of imaging used for glioma detection. It can take detailed brain pictures and determine the size, position, and type of tumours.
  • Computed tomography (CT) scans are occasionally substituted for MRIs but are not as detailed.
  • Biopsy: A tumour tissue biopsy is taken for laboratory analysis to determine the type and grade of the gliomas.
  • PET scans (positron emission tomography) are sometimes combined to assess tumour metabolism and assist with therapy planning.

MediRehab (chain of Rehab centres - Part of MediGence) provides comprehensive rehabilitation services rehabilitation services to support patients through Teleconsulations and online therapy sessions.

  • Physical Therapy: To enhance mobility, strength, and coordination, particularly if the tumour or surgery has impacted motor function.
  • Occupational Therapy: Assists patients in recovering the skills to do daily tasks and enhance fine movements, including dressing, eating, and writing.
  • Speech Therapy assists in the recovery of speech and swallowing function if the glioma or its treatment has impaired these functions.
  • Cognitive Rehabilitation helps patients cope with memory, attention, and other mental processes affected by the tumour or treatment.
  • Depending on the situation, your healthcare professional may prescribe medicine to help control your symptoms and support the treatment plan.

Instantly Connect with our Specialists

Doctor 1
Doctor 2
Doctor 3
Doctor 4
Doctor 5
Doctor 6
Doctor 7
Doctor 8

Hospitals for Glioma in Thailand

Piyavate Hospital: Top Doctors, and Reviews
Piyavate Hospital

Bangkok, Thailand

Piyavate Hospital located in Bangkok, Thailand is accredited by JCI. Also listed below are some of the most prominent infrastructural details:

  • Medicine Centre: Piyavate Hospital provides advanced holistic treatment for their patients. They offer a complete range of services and physicians that specialize in various fields like the endocrine system, the nervous system, kidney function, cardiovascular care, respiratory and digestive system. They pride themselves for the familial care that they provide to their patients.

  • Fertility and In-Vitro Fertilization Centre: Helping the couples who walk into the Piyavate Hospital to achieve their dream of having a family. They have a medical team that specializes in male and female fertility. They offer consultation services, fertility check-up for both men and women and complete IVF services. They have advanced IVF cycle treatment facilities that offer a high rate of success.

  • Bone and Joint Institute: Piyavate Hospital houses one of the frontrunners in Orthopaedic health care in all of SouthEast Asia. They offer a wide range of services and surgeries in their bone and joint institute that include hand surgery, hip and knee replacement surgery, spinal cord surgery, upper extremity surgery, arthroscopic surgery and sports medicine.

  • Eye and Lasik Centre: Piyavate Hospital is fully equipped with the latest and most advanced technology for eye care and houses highly skilled ophthalmologists, sub-specialists and qualified nurses.

  • Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Centre: One of the first hospitals to be equipped with the Hybrid Assistive Limb technology that will help a neurologically challenged patient to control the rehabilitation robot limb with a signal from their brain. The Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Centre at Piyavate Hospital uses this system encourage patients to regain muscle memory to walk and function normally.

Amenities for Patient’s Family:

Piyavate Hospital also offers additional apartment facilities to house the kin of the patients who come to visit them from distant places. A restaurant, a flower shop and a café are a few of the other amenities provided by the hospital.

These are the most popular services offered by the Piyavate Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. They also provide a plethora of other medical services that are listed below:

  • Diabetic Foot Centre

  • Check-up centre

  • Urology Centre 

  • Heart Institute

  • Paediatric Centre 

  • Obstetrics and Gynaecology Centre

  • Surgery Centre

  • Ear Nose Throat Centre

  • Haemodialysis Centre 

  • Dental Centre

  • X-Ray Centre

  • Gastroenterology Centre

  • Cancer Centre

  • Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

  • Emergency Services and Centre

  • Tele-medicine

Phyathai 2 International Hospital: Top Doctors, and Reviews
Phyathai 2 International Hospital

Bangkok, Thailand

Phyathai 2 International Hospital located in Bangkok, Thailand is accredited by JCI. Also listed below are some of the most prominent infrastructural details:

  • Fully equipped rooms are available for convenience of the patients- Gold B Room, Gold A Room, Pediatric Gold A, Platinum room, and Prestige ward
  • Nearby accommodations are also available- Abloom Service Apartments, Bangkok Patio, VIB Best Western Sanam Pao, VIC3 Hotel
  • Operating room
  • International Patient Medical Center to assist overseas patients
Bangpakok 9 International Hospital: Top Doctors, and Reviews
Bangpakok 9 International Hospital

Bangkok, Thailand

Bangpakok 9 International Hospital located in Bangkok, Thailand is accredited by JCI. Also listed below are some of the most prominent infrastructural details:

  • It would be prudent to summarise the Medical Services provided at the Bangpakok 9 International Hospital (BPK 9), Bangkok, Thailand:
  • Cosmetic Dentistry
  • Dental Implants
  • Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG)
  • Exercise Stress Test
  • Health Screening
  • Laser Vagina Firming
  • Pediatric Physical Therapy
  • Perfect Slim by Vela II
  • Physical Therapy for Musculoskeletal
  • Prosthodontics
  • The Medical Services are also inclusive of the International Patient Services such as the ones listed here:
  • Thai, English, French, Arabic, Chinese, Myanmar, Cambodia, Bangladeshi, Bahasa and Tagalog are the languages in which there are Translation services available for International Patients.
  • Visa extension related assistance
  • International health insurance related assistance
  • Embassy and international organizations related assistance
  • A variety of meals of choice for International Patients
  • Email consultation services
  • Transfer to either airport and/or hotels
  • Prayer room
  • Four different types of rooms are available such as Deluxe room, two kinds of suites, and a VIP suite.
  • Hospital facilities like The Coffee shop, Food Hall, Cafe and Medical Spa.
  • Complete health and safety protocols are maintained in the various Medical Centers some of whom are as follows:
  • Aesthetic Center
  • 24 Hour Emergency Center
  • Allergy Center
  • Breast Center
  • bSmart Center
  • Checkup Center
  • Dental Center,
  • Happy Long Life Center
  • Medical Fitness Center
  • Psychiatric Center
  • Rehabilitation Center
  • Sleep Disorders Center

Our Services to better your experience

Opinion & Option

We submit the most accurate opinion and options from one or more countries for your review

Consult Privately

Consult with a certified specialist privately on our telemedicine platform even before you decide to travel

Logistics

We handle flights, visas, transfers, and accommodation—so you can focus on your health.

Recovery

Our In-house rehabilitation service packages to better your recovery and treatment outcome

Why Choose Thailand for Glioma Treatment?

Thailand is an ideal location to treat gliomas as it provides the latest immunotherapies under initiatives such as the TTCI and advanced surgical techniques such as awake craniotomy for precise tumour removal. Thailand provides glioma patients with effective and personalised treatment because of its highly trained physicians, state-of-the-art facilities, and affordable healthcare.

Frequently Asked Questions

The following are the main differences between high-grade and low-grade gliomas:

  • Low-gradegliomas, typically grade I or II, are less aggressive, grow more slowly, and have a better prognosis.
  • High-grade gliomas, like glioblastoma, are often graded as grade III or IV because they are more malignant and develop rapidly.

Surgery is often recommended in Thailand for treating gliomas, particularly if the tumours are removed safely. However, other therapies such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy may also be considered, often in addition to surgery, to achieve the best results, depending on factors such as tumour size, location, and the patient's health. Treatment for each patient is tailored to suit their individual needs.

Gliomas may recur after treatment. Recurrence depends on several factors, such as the location, grade, and type of the glioma. Due to their aggressive nature, glioblastoma and other high-grade gliomas are more likely to recur. Despite successful initial treatment, glioma cells might remain in the brain, which may result in the tumour's recurrence.

The tumour grade, location, type, and overall patient health influence the glioma survival rate in Thailand. More aggressive tumours, like glioblastoma, may have a lower survival rate, though current advances in immunotherapy, radiation, and surgery have promising results. The treatment plan for each patient is personalised to ensure the best possible prognosis, and early detection and individualised treatment significantly enhance survival rates.

The following lifestyle modifications can help in the management of glioma symptoms:

  • Regular, moderate exercise can enhance strength, decrease fatigue, and increase general well-being.
  • A well-balanced diet containing plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can improve overall well-being, enhance energy levels, and boost the immune system.
  • The relaxation skills of meditation, deep breathing, or yoga can be used to minimise stress and anxiety.
  • Resting properly and getting quality sleep assists in managing tiredness and facilitating the body's healing process.
  • Prescribed pain medications and complementary therapies like massage or acupuncture can help control discomfort.
  • Participation in cognitive therapy or support groups can treat cognitive problems and offer emotional support throughout treatment.

Yes, you can get a second opinion on Glioma treatment in Thailand through MediGence. With MediGence, you can connect with highly experienced professionals from top Thai hospitals who can provide additional information regarding your diagnosis and treatment options. The platform facilitates easy access to professional help so you can make informed healthcare choices and receive the best care possible.

To find a certified cancer specialist, search MediGence’s website, which offers a list of top-class and internationally trained oncologists from Thailand's best hospitals. Through MediGence, you can search the profiles of specialists, check their credentials, reviews, and experience, and book online consultations. To get the best care for your condition, the website also assists you in finding the best hospitals and provides personalised assistance for your health requirements.