Glioblastoma multiforme historical perspective

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Marjan Khan M.B.B.S.[2]

The term “glioma” was first introduced by Rudolf Virchow in 1864. The suffix multiforme was meant to describe the various appearances of hemorrhage, necrosis, and cysts. the first successful removal of a brain tumor is credited to the Scottish neurosurgeon Sir William Macewen in 1879. The first successful removal of a brain tumor is credited to the Scottish neurosurgeon Sir William Macewen in 1879. In 1926 Percival Bailey and Harvey Cushing published “A Classification of the Tumors of the Glioma Group on a Histogenetic Basis with a Correlated Study of Prognosis” and the term “glioblastoma multiforme” (GBM) was coined. The WHO classification dropped the term multiforme and thus it is best referred as glioblastoma or grade IV astrocytoma.

• The term “glioma” was first introduced by Rudolf Virchow in 1864.
• The suffix multiforme was meant to describe the various appearances of hemorrhage, necrosis, and cysts.
• the first successful removal of a brain tumor is credited to the Scottish neurosurgeon Sir William Macewen in 1879.
• In 1922 Bailey and Cushing created a histological laboratory to examine Cushing’s collection of brain tumours found within his registry.
• In 1926 Percival Bailey and Harvey Cushing published “A Classification of the Tumors of the Glioma Group on a Histogenetic Basis with a Correlated Study of Prognosis” and the term “glioblastoma multiforme” (GBM) was coined.
• In 1940 neuropathologist Hans-Joachim Scherer made distinction between primary and secondary GBMs.
• Initially known as “spongioblastoma multiforme”, Bailey and Cushing adopted the term glioblastoma to limit confusion.
• In 1976 the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology (ICD-O) was created by the WHO for recording the incidence of malignancy and survival.
• In 1993, GBM was removed from its original category and placed in the spectrum of “Astrocytic Tumours” and is classed as WHO grade IV astrocytoma.
• The WHO classification dropped the term multiforme and thus it is best referred as glioblastoma or grade IV astrocytoma.

Template:WikiDoc Sources