Survival in malignant astrocytoma at King Khalid University Hospital

ABSTRACT

Malignant astrocytoma [Kernohan grade III and IV] still has one of the worst outcomes of all malignant tumors. To determine factors affecting the survival of patients with malignant astrocytoma in Saudi Arabia, a retrospective study of 76 cases that were treated at King Khalid University Hospital over one decade was carried out. Kaplan-Meier survival diagrams were constructed for each prognostic factor. Twenty-eight percent of cases survived two years. A significantly better survival rate was found in females, patients patients who had re-operation for a recurrence. A better survival rate which did not reach significance was found in patients with grade III tumors, patients with a Karnofsky score of >/= 70 at presentation, patients who had craniotomy and excision and patients who had radiotherapy. It is suggested that to improve the outcome of patients with malignant astrocytoma, aggressive surgical excision with radiotherapy [and possibly chemotherapy] is required