Applying the en-bloc technique in corpus callosum glioblastoma surgery contributes to maximal resection and better prognosis: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Corpus callosum glioblastoma (ccGBM) is a specific type of GBM and has worse outcomes than other non-ccGBMs. We sought to identify whether en-bloc resection of ccGBMs based on T2-FLAIR imaging contributes to clinical outcomes and can achieve a satisfactory balance between maximal resection and preservation of neurological function. METHODS: A total of 106 adult ccGBM patients (including astrocytoma, WHO grade 4, IDH mutation, and glioblastoma) were obtained from the Department of Neurosurgery in Nanfang Hospital between January 2008 and December 2018. The clinical data, including gender, age, symptoms, location of tumor, involvement of eloquent areas, extent of resection (EOR), pre- and postoperative Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) scales, and National Institute of Health stroke scale (NIHSS) scores were collected. Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was applied to control the confounders for analyzing the relationship between the en-bloc technique and EOR, and the change in the postoperative KPS scales and NIHSS scores. RESULTS: Applying the en-bloc technique did not negatively affect the postoperative KPS scales compared to no-en-bloc resection (P = 0.851 for PSM analysis) but had a positive effect on preserving or improving the postoperative NIHSS scores (P = 0.004 for PSM analysis). A positive correlation between EOR and the en-bloc technique was identified (r = 0.483, P < 0.001; r = 0.720, P < 0.001 for PSM analysis), indicating that applying the en-bloc technique could contribute to enlarged maximal resection. Further survival analysis confirmed that applying the en-bloc technique and achieving supramaximal resection could significantly prolong OS and PFS, and multivariate analysis suggested that tumor location, pathology, EOR and the en-bloc technique could be regarded as independent prognostic indicators for OS in patients with ccGBMs, and pathology, EOR and the en-bloc technique were independently correlated with patient's PFS. Interestingly, the en-bloc technique also provided a marked reduction in the risk of tumor recurrence compared with the no-en-bloc technique in tumors undergoing TR, indicating that the essential role of the en-bloc technique in ccGBM surgery (HR: 0.712; 95% CI: 0.535-0.947; P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The en-bloc technique could contribute to achieving an enlarged maximal resection and could significantly prolong overall survival and progression-free survival in patients with ccGBMs.

Surgery for IDH1/2 wild-type glioma invading the corpus callosum.

BACKGROUND: Glioblastoma of the corpus callosum (ccGBM) are rare tumors, with a dismal prognosis marked by a rapid clinical deterioration. For a long time, surgical treatment was not considered beneficial for most patients with such tumors. Recent studies claimed an improved survival for patients undergoing extensive resection, albeit without integration of the molecular profile of the lesions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of biopsy and surgical resection on oncological and functional outcomes in patients with IDH wild-type ccGBM. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of our institution's database of patients having been treated for high-grade glioma between 2005 and 2017. Inclusion criteria were defined as follows: patients older than 18 years, histopathological, and molecularly defined IDH wild-type glioma, major tumor mass (at least 2/3) invading the corpus callosum in the sagittal plane with a uni- or bilateral infiltration of the adjacent lobules. Surgical therapy (resection vs. biopsy), extent of resection according to the remaining tumor volume and adjuvant treatment as well as overall survival and functional outcome using the Karnofsky Performance Score (KPS) were analyzed. RESULTS: Fifty-five patients were included in the study, from which the mean age was 64 years and men (n = 34, 61.8%) were more often affected than women (n = 21, 38.2%). Thirty (54.5%) patients were treated with stereotactic biopsy alone, while 25 patients received tumor resection resulting in 14.5% (n = 8) gross-total resections and 30.9% (n = 17) partial resections. The 2-year survival rate after resection was 30% compared to 7% after biopsy (p = 0.047). The major benefit was achieved in the group with gross-total resection, while partial resection failed to improve survival. Neurological outcome measured by KPS did not differ between both groups either pre- or postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that in patients with corpus callosum glioblastoma, gross-total resection prolongs survival without negatively impacting neurological outcome as compared to biopsy.

Safety and outcomes of resection of butterfly glioblastoma.

OBJECTIVE Butterfly glioblastoma (bGBM) is a rare type of GBM, characterized by a butterfly pattern on MRI studies because of its bihemispheric involvement and invasion of the corpus callosum (CC). There is a profound gap in the knowledge regarding the optimal treatment approach as well as the safety and survival benefits of resection in treating this aggressive brain tumor. In this retrospective study, authors add to our understanding of these tumors by identifying the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with bGBM. METHODS An institutional database was reviewed for GBM cases treated in the period from 2004 to 2014. Records were reviewed to identify adult patients with bGBM. Cases of GBM with invasion of the CC without involvement of the contralateral hemisphere and bilateral GBMs without involvement of the CC were excluded from the study. Patient and tumor characteristics were gleaned from the medical records, and volumetric analysis was performed using T1-weighted MRI studies. RESULTS From among 1746 cases of GBM, 39 cases of bGBM were identified. Patients had a mean age of 57.8 years at diagnosis. Headache and confusion were the most common presenting symptoms (48.7% and 33.3%, respectively). The median overall survival was 3.2 months from diagnosis with an overall 6-month survival rate of 38.1%. Age, Karnofsky Performance Status at diagnosis, preoperative tumor volume, postoperative tumor volume, and extent of resection were found to significantly impact survival in the univariate analysis. On multivariate analysis, preoperative tumor volume and treatment approach of resection versus biopsy were identified as independent prognostic factors regardless of the patient-specific characteristics of age and KPS at diagnosis. Resection and biopsy were performed in 35.9% and 64.1% of patients, respectively. Resection was found to confer a better prognosis than biopsy (HR 0.37, p = 0.009) with a minimum extent of resection of 86% to observe survival benefits (HR 0.054, p = 0.03). The rate of persistent neurological deficits from resection was 7.14%. Patients younger than 70 years had a better prognosis (HR 0.32, p = 0.003). Patients undergoing resection and receiving adjuvant chemoradiation had a better prognosis than patients who lacked one of the three treatment modalities (HR = 0.34, p = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS Resection of bGBM is associated with low persistent neurological deficits, with improvement in survival compared to biopsy. A more aggressive treatment approach involving aggressive resection and adjuvant chemoradiation has significant survival benefits and improves outcome.

Butterfly Tumor of the Corpus Callosum: Clinical Characteristics, Diagnosis, and Survival Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The pathologies implicate the bilateral corpus callosum that builds the butterfly pattern on axial view. These tumors have seldom been investigated for both clinical manifestations and outcome. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of the butterfly tumor and to identify the predictive factors associated with survival outcome. METHODS: A retrospective study of 50 butterfly tumor was conducted between 2003 and 2016. The clinical characteristics, imaging, and outcome were assessed for the purpose of descriptive analysis. Using the Kaplan-Meier method, the median overall survival of the butterfly tumor was determined. Furthermore, the Cox proportional hazard regression was the estimated hazard ratio for death. RESULTS: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma was common of butterfly lesions. The mortality rate was 78% and overall median survival time was 16.03 months (95% confidence interval: 14.0-19.8). Using Cox proportional hazards regression, the independent prognostic factors were Karnofsky Performance Status score ≤70, splenium involvement, and butterfly glioblastoma. CONCLUSIONS: The butterfly tumor is a poor prognostic disease compared with each histology subgroup. Further molecular investigation is preferable to explore genetic variations associated with these tumors.