Long-term survival in a patient with supratentorial glioblastoma: clinical considerations.
Glioblastoma, a malignant tumor of neuroepithelial origin, is relatively uncommon in childhood, during which it accounts for 7%-9% of brain tumors. A few patients (about 3%) live more than 5 years. We report a 13-year-old girl who was admitted because one month earlier she had begun to present headache and diplopia. Brain computed tomography (CT) showed a right frontal tumor. At operation, complete excision of the visible tumor was performed. Histologic examination showed that the tumor was a glioblastoma multiforme. The patient underwent 52 Gy of external beam radiotherapy to the enhancing tumor mass plus 3-cm border, and chemotherapy with nitrosourea (BCNU). Fourteen years, 9 months later, the patient presents neither neurological deficits nor radiological relapse. We confirm that younger age, the one immutable prognostic factor, supports a particularly aggressive approach to the treatment of glioblastomas.
Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Rome La Sapienza, Roma, Italy.
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D000293:Adolescent; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D015726:Giant Cells / Q000473:pathology; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D009336:Necrosis; D011379:Prognosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome