title: A very rare case report of long-term survival: A patient operated on in 1994 of glioblastoma multiforme and currently in perfect health.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Glioblastoma multiforme is the most aggressive type of primary brain tumors, but there is a small percentage of patients who have a long-term survival and some exceptional cases who survive decades after surgical removal of tumor.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 1994, a 44 year-old man, suffering from intense headache and loss of strength of the left arm, was operated for a glioblastoma multiforme in the posterior part of the right frontal lobe. After the operation the patient underwent whole-brain radiotherapy and chemotherapy. 22 years after surgery the patient has no recurrence of the tumor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A very small percentage of glioblastoma cases showed >3years survival. There have been exceptional cases of long-survival spanning 10 years or more, without tumor recurrence, so as to deem those affected 'cured'. The long-survival for glioblastoma multiforme is linked to young age, to aggressive and complete surgical excision, a good Karnofsky index score before surgery, the application of radiotherapy after surgery and to the molecular make-up of a specific glioma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The fact that there are extremely rare cases of long-term survival and even zero recurrence of the glioblastoma should serve as a stimulus to continue the research effort and not give up the fight against this tumor on a day-to-day basis.
authors.affiliation: Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Viale dell 'Università n.30, 00185, Roma, Italy. Electronic address: riccardo.caruso@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.affiliation: Azienda Ospedaliera Sant 'Andrea, Neurosurgery Department, Sapienza University of Rome, Via di Grottarossa 1035, 00189, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pesce
authors.affiliation: Army Hospital of Rome "Celio", Italy, Neurosurgery Department, Via S. Stefano Rotondo n. 4, 00184, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Venceslao
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Wierzbicki
keywords: Case report; Glioblastoma multiforme; Long-survival; Primary brain tumor; Prognostic factors; Treatment