Reoperation for malignant astrocytomas: personal experience and a review of the literature.
All patients in a randomized study comparing chemotherapy with chemotherapy plus radiotherapy for patients with astrocytomas grade 3 and 4, were considered for reoperation when tumour progression was established. Fifty-eight patients were reoperated and 85 were not. Different prognostic factors, such as age, sex, Karnofsky performance status and reoperation were evaluated univariately and simultaneously in a multivariate model. The Karnofsky index and age were found to be independent prognostic factors, while re-operation could not be demonstrated to prolong life when controlled for age and the Karnofsky index. We review the literature on re-operation of malignant astrocytomas.
Strömblad
L G
LG
Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
Anderson
H
H
Malmström
P
P
Salford
L G
LG
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012086:Reoperation; D015996:Survival Rate