What is DIPG? What is diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma?

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d.createElement(t), options = { 'userName':'thecurestartsnow', 'formHash':'m1dv0k7b0bt96w5', 'autoResize':true, 'height':'342', 'async':true, 'host':'wufoo.com', 'header':'show', 'ssl':true }; s.src = ('https:' == d.location.protocol ?'https://':'http://') + 'secure.wufoo.com/scripts/embed/form.js'; s.onload = s.onreadystatechange = function() { var rs = this.readyState; if (rs) if (rs != 'complete') if (rs != 'loaded') return; try { m1dv0k7b0bt96w5 = new WufooForm(); m1dv0k7b0bt96w5.initialize(options); m1dv0k7b0bt96w5.display(); } catch (e) { } }; var scr = d.getElementsByTagName(t)[0], par = scr.parentNode; par.insertBefore(s, scr); })(document, 'script'); </script> </div> </aside> <article class="col-md-9"> <h1>What is DIPG? What is diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma?</h1> <p class="lead">DIPG, or<span> </span><strong>diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma</strong>, is a type of <a href="https://thecurestartsnow.org/brain-tumors/brain-tumor/" title="Brain Tumor">brain tumor</a> found in an area of the brainstem known as the pons. The name diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma describes how the tumor grows, where it is found, and what kinds of cells give rise to the tumor.</p> <div class="embed-container"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/w7sR6XPsYMA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div> <figure class="right col-md-5"><img src="/media/2436/brain-diagram-pons.png" alt="diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma occurs in the pons"> <figcaption>Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma is a brain tumor that occurs in the pons region.</figcaption> </figure> <h2>Diffuse</h2> <p>Diffuse<span> </span>means that the tumor is not well-contained – it grows out into other tissue so that cancer cells mix with healthy cells. </p> <h2>Intrinsic</h2> <p>Intrinsic simply means "in", referring to the point or origin.</p> <h2>Pontine</h2> <p>Pontine indicates that the tumor is found in a part of the brainstem called the <a href="/facts/what-is-dipg/function-of-the-pons/" title="Pontine Anatomy and Function">pons</a>. The pons is responsible for a number of important bodily functions, like breathing, sleeping, bladder control, and balance.</p> <h2>Glioma</h2> <p>Glioma is a general term for tumors originating from glial cells. Glial cells are found throughout the brain. They make up the white matter of the brain that surrounds and supports the neurons (neurons are cells that carry messages in the brain).</p> <h2>Recently diagnosed with DIPG or DMG?</h2> <p><span>While the diagnosis of DIPG or DMG is difficult, there are steps you can take to improve the quality of care for your child. Let us walk you through the steps of what to do after diagnosis.</span></p> <p><span><a class="btn primary" href="/what-to-do-when-diagnosed/" role="button" title="What To Do When Diagnosed">What To Do When Diagnosed</a></span></p> <h2>Diffuse Midline Glioma vs Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma</h2> <p><a href="/facts/what-is-dmg/" title="What is DMG">DMG (Diffuse Midline Glioma)</a> and DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma) are often categorized together but can have different treatments that can lead to slightly different prognosis paths. Still, much of the science, the research, foundational funding and data for both types of brain tumors are grouped under DIPG, mainly because historically much of the work researching DIPG since around 2012 led to the reclassification and current definitions of DMG.</p> <p><span><a class="btn primary" href="/facts/dipg-vs-dmg/" role="button" title="DIPG vs DMG">Learn more about DIPG vs DMG</a></span></p> <h2>Who is Affected by DIPG cancer?</h2> <p>DIPG cancer primarily affects children, with most diagnoses occurring between 5 and 7 years of age. It makes up 10-15% of all brain tumors in children, with about 150-300 new diagnoses per year in the United States. Unfortunately, fewer than 10% of children survive two years from diagnosis.</p> <p><a class="btn primary" href="/statistics/" role="button" title="DIPG Stats">See The Stats On DIPG</a></p> <h3>Why Do Certain Children Get DIPG?</h3> <p>In short, doctors don’t know why. There are no known associations of DIPG with any environmental or infectious agents. Most researchers who study DIPG believe these brain tumors, similar to other tumors affecting children, arise when normal developmental and maturational processes go awry.</p> <p><a class="btn primary" href="/facts/causes-of-dipg/" role="button" title="Causes of DIPG">Causes of DIPG</a></p> <h2>Clinical Signs of Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma</h2> <p>Sometimes parents notice:</p> <ul> <li>odd eye movements</li> <li>slurred speech</li> <li>difficulty swallowing</li> <li>trouble maintaining balance</li> <li>or drooping of one part of their child’s face</li> </ul> <p>DIPG tumors and pontine tumors can press on and interfere with the function of these nerves, leading to weakness in an arm and/or a leg.</p> <p>Tumors in the brainstem, like DIPG tumors, can also cause increased pressure within the skull. Increased pressure can cause patients to complain of persistent headaches and in some patients can lead to nausea and vomiting.</p> <p><a class="btn primary" href="/facts/symptoms-of-dipgdmg/" role="button" title="Symptoms of DIPG">Symptoms of DIPG</a></p> <h2>DIPG Appearance on MRI</h2> <p>A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is the best non-invasive way to determine the size and properties of brain tumors. Because the MRI appearance of the two most common types of pediatric brainstem tumors, DIPGs and pilocytic astrocytomas, are so different, they can be accurately identified the vast majority of the time by MRI alone.</p> <p>In rare cases where the diagnosis is uncertain based on MRI results, your doctor may order a biopsy.</p> <p><a class="btn primary" href="/facts/diagnosis-and-imaging-of-dipg/" role="button" title="Diagnosis and Imaging of DIPG">Imaging of DIPG</a></p> <h2>Clinical Course of Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma</h2> <p>Once the <a href="/facts/diagnosis-and-imaging-of-dipg/" title="Diagnosis and Imaging of DIPG">diagnosis</a> of DIPG is suspected, there is a standard course of treatment that your doctor will most likely follow:</p> <ul> <li><span>At the time of diagnosis, <a href="/treatment/steroids/" title="Steroids">steroids</a> are often the first treatment offered to patients with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma.</span></li> <li><span>Soon after the steroid regimen, patients are prepped for <a href="/treatment/radiation-therapy/" title="Radiation Therapy">radiation therapy</a>.</span></li> <li><span>Unfortunately, no <a href="/treatment/chemotherapy/" title="Chemotherapy">chemotherapy</a> drugs to date are known to have an impact on survival.</span></li> </ul> <p><span>In almost all cases, after about 6 to 12 months, the DIPG tumor starts to grow again. Once the tumor has started to grow again, no further treatment has been shown to improve survival. When children start to have neurologic symptoms, they are often restarted on steroids.</span></p> <p><a class="btn primary" href="/facts/clinical-course-for-dipg/" role="button" title="Clinical Course for DIPG">More on the Clinical Course of DIPG</a></p> <hr> <p>See also:</p> <ul> <li><a href="/facts/diagnosis-and-imaging-of-dipg/" title="Diagnosis and Imaging of DIPG">Diagnosis of DIPG</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/dipg-survival-rate-and-prognosis/" title="DIPG Prognosis and Survival Rates">DIPG Prognosis and Survival Rates</a></li> <li><a href="/faq/" title="FAQ">DIPG Frequently Asked Questions</a></li> </ul> <footer class="footnotes"> <p> Content used with permission from the <a href="https://www.acco.org/" target="_blank">American Childhood Cancer Organization</a>. Hoffman, Ruth, editor. <em>Understanding The Journey: A Parent’s Guide to DIPG</em>. American Childhood Cancer Organization, 2012. Print. </p> <p>Contributing Authors:</p> <ul> <li>Eric H. Raabe, MD, PhD</li> <li>Kenneth Cohen, MD, MBA</li> </ul> </footer> </article> </div> </div> </main> <footer id="footer"> DIPG.org is proud to be a part of <strong>The Cure Starts Now Cancer Resource Network</strong>:<br /><a href="https://thecurestartsnow.org" target="_blank">The Cure Starts Now</a> | <a href="https://dipg.org" target="_blank">DIPG.org</a> | <a href="https://medulloblastoma.org" target="_blank">Medulloblastoma.org</a><br /><br />10280 Chester Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45215 | 513-772-4888<br />Copyright 2022 The Cure Starts Now. All Rights Reserved.<br /><br />Special thanks to the <a href="http://dipgregistry.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DIPG Registry</a> and <a href="http://dipgcollaborative.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DIPG Collaborative</a><br /><br />Image Courtesy the Waneka Family and C. 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