Brain Stem Gliomas in Adult: Correlation between MRI, Clinical Findings and Outcome: Preliminary Report

ABSTRACT

An analysis of 13 patients with brain stem glioma in adult, treated between 1988 and 1995, was undertaken. The purpose of this study is to establish the correlations between the MRI appearance, clinical findings and the prognosis. Based on the MRI appearance of the tumor at the time of clinical diagnosis, tumors were divided into four types intrinsic diffuse, intrinsic focal, intrinsic cervicomedullary and exophytic type. Five patients were diagnosed pathologically by means of stereotactic biopsy(2 patients) and open surgery(3 patients), the rest were diagnosed on the basis of MRI appearance. All patients had received radiation therapy, and 11 patients had received chemotherapy during or immediately after radiation therapy. The methods of radiation therapy were either conventional or hyperfractionated type. The histological features were not always correlated with the prognosis. MRI and clinical findings could suggest the prognosis and probably the histological nature of the tumors. Moreover, response to initial radiotherapy and chemotherapy was considered to be a good prognostic factor. Seven of the 13 patients had response to the initial radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The poor prognostic factors determined in our study were 1) diffuse type 2) rapid growing with rim enhancement in spite of initial radiotherapy and chemotherapy 3) malignant pathologic finding 4) intratumoral necrosis after radiotherapy 5) multiple site involvement. The good prognostic factors were 1) intrinsic focal type 2) intrinsic cervicomedullary type 3) no cranial nerve involvement 4) good response to initial radiotherapy and chemotherapy.