Coincidence vs cause: cure in three glioblastoma patients treated with brachytherapy.
BACKGROUND
Very long term survival after diagnosis of malignant glioma has been described in individual case reports. Survival of more than 10 years is extremely rare, especially when identified in 3 out of 71 patients assigned to one arm of a randomized controlled trial.


METHODS
Three patients survived 11, 16, and 18 years following the diagnosis of glioblastoma and treatment with surgery, conventional fractionated radiation, and high-activity iodine-125 boost brachytherapy as part of a randomized controlled trial.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite this apparent cause and effect relationship, statistical analysis shows no relationship between these cures and treatment with brachytherapy. Cure of glioblastoma remains rare.
Dehdashti
Amir R
AR
Division of Neurosurgery, Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Sharma
Sunjay
S
Laperriere
Normand
N
Bernstein
Mark
M
D000328:Adult; D001918:Brachytherapy; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000601:surgery; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D005260:Female; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D015996:Survival Rate; D017741:Survivors; D016896:Treatment Outcome