title: Multicentre prospective collection of newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients: update on the Lombardia experience.
abstract: A prospective collection of newly diagnosed cases of grade IV glioma in Lombardia, Italy, was started in 2003. In the present report, data are shown on 349 adult patients recruited up to 2005. The clinical features, pattern of care and outcome are discussed, together with the main prognostic factors. Males were affected more frequently than women; median age at onset was 60. Overall, gross total tumour resection was performed in roughly 50% of the patients, and partial resection and biopsy in 25% each; only 5 patients did not undergo histology. Adjuvant radiotherapy was delivered to 89% and chemotherapy to 82% of patients. Median survival was of 54 weeks. Most patients received protracted therapy with antiepileptic drugs, despite absence of seizures; over the course of the study, the practice pattern tended to change, shifting to the use of non-enzyme-inducing anti-epileptic drugs.
authors.affiliation: Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico C. Besta, Milan, Italy. salmaggi@istituto-besta.it
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salmaggi
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Silvani
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Merli
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caroli
authors.forename: Giustino
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tomei
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Riva
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marchioni
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Imbesi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001706:Biopsy; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D017678:Sex Distribution; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants