Glioblastoma Diagnosis

If you have a brain tumor, it is important to get the most accurate diagnosis possible. This will help your doctor pinpoint the tumor to give you the most advanced treatment while minimizing side effects.

At MD Anderson, we have the most modern and accurate equipment available to identify brain tumors and find out exactly how far they may have spread. We also have neuropathologists, doctors who focus exclusively on diagnosing brain and spine tumors.

If you have symptoms that may signal glioblastoma, your doctor will examine you and ask you questions about your health, your lifestyle and your family history.

One or more of the following tests may be used to find out if you have a brain tumor and if it has spread. These tests also may be used to find out if treatment is working.

Imaging tests

Imaging exams look for where cancer is inside the body. Imaging exams for brain tumors may include:

• CT (computed tomography) scans
• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans

Biopsy

While imaging tests may show an area where there may be a brain tumor, doctors need a tissue sample to definitively diagnose a primary brain tumor. Tissue samples are retrieved through a biopsy. Doctors can perform a biopsy by removing a small sample of tissue with a needle or removing all or part of a tumor through surgery. The tumor tissue is then examined under a microscope. Your neurosurgeon will determine which type of biopsy is best for your tumor.

Lumbar puncture

A small amount of cerebrospinal fluid (clear liquid in and around the brain and spine) is removed with a needle and examined under a microscope. This test may be done if doctors suspect a tumor has spread to the layers of tissue that cover the brain (the meninges) and into the spinal fluid.

Molecular diagnosis

Different cancers have different features on the molecular level. A molecular diagnosis identifies the features that can impact treatment. This information helps doctors create the most effective treatment plan for each patient.

Genetic testing

Some genetic mutations can increase the risk of developing certain diseases. Brain cancer patients may undergo genetic testing to help doctors better understand the cancer and design the best plan to treat it.