What is DIPG or diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma? - DIPG Resource Network HD

Keith Desserich from The Cure Starts Now and Dr. Trent Hummel discuss what diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is. Learn more at https://dipg.org/dipg-facts/what-is-dipg/ 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 means that the tumor is not well-contained – it grows out into other tissue so that cancer cells mix with healthy cells. Intrinsic simply means "in", referring to the point or origin. 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 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). 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.