What is DIPG? What is diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma?

DIPG, or diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, is a type of brain tumor 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.

Diffuse

Diffuse means that the tumor is not well-contained – it grows out into other tissue so that cancer cells mix with healthy cells.

Intrinsic

Intrinsic simply means "in", referring to the point or origin.

Pontine

Pontine indicates that the tumor is found in a part of the brainstem called the pons. The pons is responsible for a number of important bodily functions, like breathing, sleeping, bladder control, and balance.

Glioma

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).

Recently diagnosed with DIPG or DMG?

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.

What To Do When Diagnosed

Diffuse Midline Glioma vs Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma

DMG (Diffuse Midline Glioma) 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.

Learn more about DIPG vs DMG

Who is Affected by DIPG cancer?

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.

See The Stats On DIPG

Why Do Certain Children Get DIPG?

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.

Causes of DIPG

Clinical Signs of Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma

Sometimes parents notice:

odd eye movements
slurred speech
difficulty swallowing
trouble maintaining balance
or drooping of one part of their child’s face

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.

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.

Symptoms of DIPG

DIPG Appearance on MRI

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.

In rare cases where the diagnosis is uncertain based on MRI results, your doctor may order a biopsy.

Imaging of DIPG

Clinical Course of Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma

Once the diagnosis of DIPG is suspected, there is a standard course of treatment that your doctor will most likely follow:

At the time of diagnosis, steroids are often the first treatment offered to patients with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma.
Soon after the steroid regimen, patients are prepped for radiation therapy.
Unfortunately, no chemotherapy drugs to date are known to have an impact on survival.

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.