Prognostic factors and survival study in high-grade glioma in the elderly.

Background Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and malignant primary brain tumour in adults. Due to the ageing of the population, diagnosis in the elderly is becoming more common. The aim of this study was to analyse different combinations of treatments and to identify preoperative factors, including O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase status, that may be associated with decreased survival among patients older than 70 years. Methods and materials We retrospectively included all patients over 70 years of age, who underwent surgery at the Department of Neurosurgery (HUCA and HUMV) and were diagnosed of GBM by pathological criteria from January 2007 to September 2014. Results Eighty-one patients were analysed, whose mean age was 75 (SD 4) and 48 were male. Karnofsky performance status (KPS) was over 70 in 61 patients and 38.3% presented with motor deficit. Sixty-three patients underwent resection, and 18 had only a diagnostic biopsy. The complication rate was 17.28% and mortality rate was 7.4%. Survival was increased in patients who received radiotherapy (n = 41) or additional chemotherapy (n = 26) (p < 0.001). KPS < 70 was an independent factor associated with low-rate survival. Patients with optimal treatment had a median survival of 8 months compared to patients with suboptimal treatment who had a median survival of 4 months (p < 0.001). Conclusions This study suggests that KPS is the most important preoperative prognostic factor. Maximal safe resection followed by radical radiotherapy and temozolomide might be the optimal treatment of choice since glioblastoma-diagnosed patients over 70 years of age showed a statistically significant survival benefit.

Surgical resection of cavernous angioma located within eloquent brain areas: International survey of the practical management among 19 specialized centers.

PURPOSE: The practical management of cavernous angioma located within eloquent brain area before, during and after surgical resection is poorly documented. We assessed the practical pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative management of cavernous angioma located within eloquent brain area. METHOD: An online survey composed of 61 items was sent to 26 centers to establish a multicenter international retrospective cohort of adult patients who underwent a surgical resection as the first-line treatment of a supratentorial cavernous angioma located within or close to eloquent brain area. RESULTS: 272 patients from 19 centers (mean 13.6 ± 16.7 per center) from eight countries were included. The pre-operative management varied significantly between centers and countries regarding the pre-operative functional assessment, the pre-operative epileptological assessment, the first given antiepileptic drug, and the time to surgery. The intra-operative environment varied significantly between centers and countries regarding the use of imaging systems, the use of functional mapping with direct electrostimulations, the extent of resection of the hemosiderin rim, the realization of a post-operative functional assessment, and the time to post-operative functional assessment. The present survey found a post-operative improvement, as compared to pre-operative evaluations, of the functional status, the ability to work, and the seizure control. CONCLUSIONS: We observed a variety of practice between centers and countries regarding the management of cavernous angioma located within eloquent regions. Multicentric prospective studies are required to solve relevant questions regarding the management of cavernous angioma-related seizures, the timing of surgery, and the optimal extent of hemosiderin rim resection.