Proposal of a clinico-histological "glioma score" as a prognostic index in high-grade glioma patients. Preliminary observations in a series of 80 cases.
BACKGROUND
Despite of several multimodal treatments, malignant gliomas still have a poor outcome. In order to identify subgroups of patients with different prognosis, we propose a clinical and histological score (GS).


METHODS
Eighty consecutive patients operated on for a high-grade glioma and treated with adjuvant therapy entered the study. In relation to age at diagnosis, preoperative Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS), and MIB-1 index, patients have been splitted in 4 groups (GS 0-III).


RESULTS
The overall mean survival of the entire cohort was 18.2 months (median 12). Patients with GS 0 have a mean survival rate of 30.0 months, with GS I 23.1 months, with GS II 12.1 months, and with GS III 9.0 months (p=0.0001). Moreover, mean survival with a KPS = or >70 was 29.0 in GS 0, 26.0 in GS I, 10.0 in GS II, and 0 in GS III patients (p<0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
On the basis of these preliminary observations, we discuss the utility of our "glioma score" as a prognostic indicator for patients operated on for cerebral malignant gliomas and treated postoperatively with adjuvant therapy.
Mastronardi
L
L
Division of Neurosurgery, Sandro Pertini Hospital, Rome, Italy. mastro@tin.it
Guiducci
A
A
Puzzilli
F
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016019:Survival Analysis