Oligodendroglioma - Mayo Clinic

Your specialized oligodendroglioma team includes experts in neuro-oncology, neurosurgery, neurology, oncology, radiation oncology, pathology and radiology. Their collective expertise, experience and teamwork deliver the best cancer care.

What might take weeks or even months at other centers can be done in a matter of days at Mayo Clinic through highly coordinated, streamlined care. At Mayo Clinic, you meet with your team of experts through a condensed appointment itinerary, saving you time and getting you the right answers, faster.

This image displays the radiology scanned imaging from a 3 Tesla MRI. The 3 Tesla MRI, while using a less powerful magnetic field compared to the 7 Tesla MRI, still provides clear and detailed images of the body's interior. It is commonly used in clinical settings to diagnose and monitor various medical conditions, offering valuable insights for patient care and treatment planning. However, the clarity of the images produced by the 3 Tesla MRI is not as high as that of the 7 Tesla MRI, which can impact the level of detail visible in the scans.

Oligodendroglioma treatments include:

Surgery to remove the tumor. The goal of surgery is to remove as much of the oligodendroglioma as possible. The brain surgeon, who also is called a neurosurgeon, works to remove the tumor without harming healthy brain tissue. One way to do this is called awake brain surgery. During this type of surgery, you're awakened from a sleeplike state. The surgeon might ask questions and monitor the activity in your brain as you reply. This helps show the important parts of the brain so the surgeon can avoid them.
Other treatments may be needed after surgery. These might be recommended if any tumor cells remain or if there's an increased risk that the tumor will come back.

Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy uses strong medicines to kill tumor cells. Chemotherapy is often used after surgery to kill any tumor cells that might remain. It can be used at the same time as radiation therapy or after radiation therapy is finished.

Radiation therapy. Radiation therapy uses powerful energy beams to kill tumor cells. The energy can come from X-rays, protons or other sources. During radiation therapy, you lie on a table while a machine moves around you. The machine sends beams to exact points in your brain.
Radiation therapy is sometimes used after surgery and may be combined with chemotherapy.

Clinical trials. Clinical trials are studies of new treatments. These studies give you a chance to try the latest treatment options. The risk of side effects may not be known. Ask a member of your healthcare team whether you can participate in a clinical trial.

Supportive care. Supportive care, also called palliative care, focuses on providing relief from pain and other symptoms of a serious illness. Palliative care specialists work with you, your family and members of your healthcare team to provide extra support. Palliative care can be used at the same time as other treatments, such as surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Mayo Clinic experts are highly experienced in all scenarios involving oligodendrogliomas. We are with you at every stage of your journey, providing hope, support and the exceptional care you deserve.

Mayo Clinic is top-ranked in more specialties than any other hospital, according to U.S. News & World Report. Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center meets strict standards as a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, which recognizes scientific excellence and a multispecialty approach focused on cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment. 

Mayo Clinic Children's Center is ranked the #1 children’s hospital in Minnesota according to U.S. News & World Report 2024–2025. 

Mayo Clinic ranks among the Best Hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery in the U.S. News & World Report “Best Hospitals” rankings. 

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