A Clinical Analysis of Anaplastic Oligodendroglioma

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The author evaluate the efficacy of surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy as a treatment methods for anaplastic oligodendroglioma patients to provide the standardized treatment option. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of ten pathologically proven cases of anaplastic oligodendroglioma was performed. RESULTS: The ten patients comprised four males and six females. The mean age at diagnosis was 34.4 year (8-70). The mean follow-up was 40.5 months, and two patients died of tumor progression during the follow-up (70, 86 months, respectively). All patients had craniotomy and the tumors were removed as much as possible. The tumos were resected totally in five cases, only subtotally in the rest. Radiation therapy was applied to seven patients, and PCV (procarbazine-CCNU-vincristine) based chemotherapeutic agent was administered to five patients. In the group with PCV therapy, complete remission was observed in two, partial remission was in one, stable disease in one, and disease progression in one who were died of tumor extension. During the follow-up, tumor recurrences were observed in four patients, and they were treated with additional operation and/or chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Anaplastic oligodendrogliomas respond to the surgical and radiological treatment and especially to the chemotherapy, and have a relatively good prognosis. PCV is an effective and safe regimen for suppressing tumor growth, and is feasible for recurrent cases. PCV chemotherapy should be considered for primary treatment method for anaplastic oligodendroglioma patients.