title: A retrospective analysis of 52 cases of spinal cord glioma managed with radiation therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the outcome of primary spinal cord glioma treated with radiation therapy after surgery and to identify variables predictive of outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  A chart review of 52 patients with a diagnosis of spinal cord non-ependymoma glioma at the Princess Margaret Hospital was conducted. Thirty-two patients (62%) were male and 20 (38%) were female. Median age was 32 years (2-76 years). Median follow-up was 3.7 years (2 months to 27 years). Initial surgical management consisted of biopsy alone in 27 (52%) cases, subtotal resection in 20 (38%) cases, and gross total resection in 5 (10%) cases. All patients received postoperative radiation therapy; median total dose was 50 Gy, given in 25 daily fractions (20-60 Gy). Actuarial survival rates were calculated and the influence of patient-, tumor-, and treatment-related variables on outcome was determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five-year overall, cause-specific, and progression-free survivals were 54%, 62%, and 58%, respectively. Ten-year survivals were 45%, 50%, and 43%, respectively. A total of 29 (56%) patients died during the period of review. For 23 (79%) of these patients, death was cancer specific. Progression of tumor was documented in 28 of 52 (54%) patients. The following factors predicted for improved outcome on univariate analysis: age < 18 years, low-grade histology, and length of symptoms prior to diagnosis > 6 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The outcome of patients in this series is consistent with that of other similar published reports. Specific recommendations are made for the management of this tumor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Ontario Cancer Institute/Princess Margaret Hospital/University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Waldron
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Laperriere
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005910:Glioma / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D017211:Treatment Failure