Glossary

Plain words for the medical terms you will hear. Any word with a dotted line under it opens its meaning here.

G

glioblastoma (glee-oh-blas-TOH-muh)

The fastest-growing type of glioma (grade 4). Treatment usually starts soon after diagnosis: surgery first, then radiation and chemotherapy.

Also called: GBM.

glioma (glee-OH-muh)

A tumor that starts in the glial cells, the support cells of the brain and spinal cord. Gliomas are graded 1 to 4 by how fast they tend to grow.

I

IDH gene change

A small change in a tumor's IDH gene. Tumors with this change often grow more slowly and may respond to different treatments. Your pathology report says whether your tumor has it.

Also called: IDH mutation, IDH-mutant.