Glioblastoma Multiforme Symptoms & Diagnosis

Symptoms

Symptoms include:

New onset headaches—more than 30% of patients
New onset seizures—20% to 30% patients
Progressive cognitive dysfunction—depends on the location of the tumor; problems with vision, language, motor function, or sensation may occur
Personality changes
Behavioral changes, development of inappropriate behaviors
Memory loss

After taking a complete history of your symptoms and completing a physical exam, your doctor may also use the following tests:

CT scan —a type of x-ray that uses a computer to make pictures of structures inside the brain
MRI scan —a test that uses magnetic waves to make pictures of structures inside the brain
Functional MRI (fMRI)—a test that gathers information on blood flow within tumors, gives more information about the tumor and the function of surrounding normal brain tissue
MRS scan—a test which measures metabolism (of the affected area) in the brain
Electroencephalogram (EEG) —a test that records the brain's activity by measuring electrical currents through the brain
Brain biopsy —removal of a sample of brain tissue to test for abnormalities in the brain
Spinal tap —removal of a small amount of cerebrospinal fluid to check for abnormalities in the brain
Positron emission tomography (PET) scan —produces images that show the amount of functional activity in the living tissue being studied