Surgical management of brain-stem gliomas: a retrospective analysis of 311 cases / 中国医学科学院学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To further study the clinical features, diagnosis, and surgery outcome of brain-stem gliomas.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 311 patients with brain-stem gliomas received surgery operations in our hospital from 1980 to the end of 2001. The clinical data, neuroimages, growth patterns, and operative feasibility were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Different brain-stem gliomas showed different growth patterns. In this series, total excision rate of the tumor was 40.5%, subtotal 29.9%, partial 29.6%, and operative mortality 1.3%. Among 311 patients, 72.4% patients had been improved and stable in their symptoms after operation, and 27.6% deteriorated or having transitory new signs. Five years survival rate is 67% in ependymoma patients, 42% in astrocytoma patients. None of brain-stem glioblastoma patients survived up to 5 years.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The histology and growth pattern of brainstem gliomas varies. The patients with well-differentiated gliomas of brain-stem may be cured by microsurgical removal. For malignant ones, partial removal may prolong survival and facilitate the following combined therapy.</p>