Gliosarcomas in the elderly: analysis of 7 cases and clinico-pathological remarks.
OBJECTIVE
Gliosarcomas are rare malignant primary brain tumors that usually affect the fifth or sixth decades of life. The purpose of this study was to describe our experience with such lesions in elderly patients and to establish their prognosis factors.


METHODS
Between 1993 and 2001, 7 patients over 60 years of age were treated at our institute for cerebral gliosarcomas. All patients underwent surgery for total or at least sub-total removal of a neoplastic mass.


RESULTS
Owing to poor clinical conditions (Karnofsky performance score = 40), one patient was not treated postoperatively. Remaining patients were treated with whole-brain radiotherapy, whereas concomitant chemotherapy (temozolomide) was administrated only to 4 patients. Histological examination showed the prevalence of sarcomatous aspects in 3 patients; the gliomatous aspect prevailed in 4 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Sarcomatous aspects and multimodality treatment (surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy) were associated with a better prognosis and showed in these elderly patients a trend similar to that of young people.
di Norcia
Valerio
V
Department of Neurosurgical Sciences, Neurosurgery Policlinico Umberto I, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
Piccirilli
Manolo
M
Giangaspero
Felice
F
Salvati
Maurizio
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D018316:Gliosarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000077204:Temozolomide
D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D003606:Dacarbazine; D000077204:Temozolomide