title: An analysis of 38 cases of low-grade cerebral astrocytoma in adults.
abstract: We retrospectively reviewed 38 cases of low-grade non-pilocytic astrocytoma diagnosed at the Charleston Area Medical Center between 1957 and 1987. All patients underwent craniotomy (total resection in 8 and subtotal in 24) or stereotactic needle biopsy (6 patients). Twenty-eight patients (74%) received radiotherapy, 25 of whom received > or = 5,000 cGy. The median survival of all patients was 46 months and nine patients (24%) survived > or = 5 years. Patients under age 40 had a longer survival than those age 40 or older (59 months vs. 30.5 months, p < .05). There was no significant difference in mean survival between those who received and those who did not receive radiotherapy after incomplete surgical resection (49 months vs. 53 months, p = 1.00). Of the 29 deaths, 15 were due to malignant transformation to a high-grade glioma and 12 to recurrent low-grade glioma. Since the role of radiotherapy is unclear, it is important that patients with low-grade glioma participate in clinical trials.
authors: Cancer Care Center of Southern West Virginia, Charleston Area Medical Center.
authors: S J
authors: SJ
authors: Jubelirer
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Rubin
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Shim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors