Oligodendroglioma

A glioma with two gene changes that doctors test for by name.

What an oligodendroglioma is

An oligodendroglioma is a glioma that starts in helper cells called oligodendrocytes. These cells wrap nerve fibres and help signals move.

The two tests that name it

To call a tumor an oligodendroglioma, doctors look for two things in the tumor cells:

• an IDH gene change, and
• a change called 1p/19q co-deletion, where parts of two chromosomes are missing.

Both must be there. If your report names this tumor, those tests were done.

Seizures are a common first sign, often years before anything else shows up.

What to ask your team

• Did my tumor have both changes?
• What grade is it?
• What are we watching for over time?