What are the symptoms of Glioblastoma (Glioblastoma Multiforme)?

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Last updated: May 28, 2025View editorial policy

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From the Guidelines

Glioblastoma symptoms commonly include effects of increased intracranial pressure, such as headaches, nausea, vomiting, and blurred vision, as well as seizure, hemiparesis, monoparesis, cranial nerve deficits, ataxia, hemisensory loss, dysphasia, aphasia, and memory impairment. The symptoms of glioblastoma vary depending on the tumor's location in the brain and the patient's age at the time of diagnosis 1.

Common Symptoms

  • Headaches that worsen over time
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Blurred vision
  • Seizure
  • Hemiparesis
  • Monoparesis
  • Cranial nerve deficits
  • Ataxia
  • Hemisensory loss
  • Dysphasia
  • Aphasia
  • Memory impairment In infants, symptoms may include increasing head circumference and loss of developmental milestones, while school-age children may experience poor school performance, fatigue, and personality changes 1.

Symptoms in Different Age Groups

  • Infants: increasing head circumference, loss of developmental milestones
  • School-age children: poor school performance, fatigue, personality changes It is essential to note that symptoms may occur gradually and worsen over time or occur suddenly, such as with a seizure 1. Any persistent neurological symptoms warrant prompt medical evaluation, as early detection of glioblastoma offers the best opportunity for treatment.

From the FDA Drug Label

The FDA drug label does not answer the question.

From the Research

Symptoms of Glioblastoma

The provided studies do not directly discuss the symptoms of glioblastoma. However, they provide information on the disease itself, its treatment options, and prognosis.

Disease Overview

  • Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and aggressive malignant brain tumor in adults 2.
  • It is associated with a very poor prognosis, with up to half of patients failing to survive the first year after diagnosis 3.
  • GBM develops from glial tissue and belongs to the adult-type diffuse glioma group according to the WHO classification of 2021 3.

Treatment Options

  • Current treatment options at diagnosis are multimodal and include surgical resection, radiation, and chemotherapy 2.
  • Temozolomide (TMZ) is the most important chemotherapeutic agent in the treatment of GBM 3, 4.
  • Innovative treatments, such as tumor-treating fields (TTFields) and immunotherapy, give hope for enhanced survival 2.

Prognosis

  • Despite aggressive resection and combined modality adjuvant treatment, most GBMs recur 2.
  • The ultimate causes of death in patients with gliomas are variable and stochastic in nature, making prognostication extremely difficult 5.
  • Prognosis can vary significantly based on the actual type of glioma, age of the patient, and various tumor-specific factors such as size, location, and comorbidities 5.

References

Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

Research

Glioblastoma: Overview of Disease and Treatment.

Clinical journal of oncology nursing, 2016

Research

Overview of prognostic factors in adult gliomas.

Annals of palliative medicine, 2021

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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