Clinical Characteristics of Geriatric Brain Tumors

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The authors analyze the clinical characteristics of the geriatric brain tumors and suggest the treatment modality. METHODS: Patients older than 65years, managed between Jan 1980 and Feb 2002 in our department, were included in this study and the number of patients was 315. Age, sex, medical history, performance scale, treatment modality, morbidity and mortality as well as the incidence of brain tumor in this age group were analyzed. RESULTS: Geriatric brain tumors were comprised of 7.8% of the adult brain tumors. The mean age was 68.7 years and male to female ratio was 1 1.3. The most common one was meningioma(114, 36.2%), followed by metastatic tumor(49, 15.6%), high grade glioma(39, 12.4%), schwannoma(38, 12%) and pituitary adenoma(35, 10.5%) in the order of frequency. The incidence of pre-existing disease, such as hypertension(25%), caridiovascular disease(15%), diabetes melitus(12%) was high. Surgical outcome was good with acceptable operative morbidity and mortality rate 26% and 3% respectively. Frequent postoperative surgical complications were tumor bed bleeding and wound infection. During perioperative course, medical complications such as cardiovascular problem, delirium, pneumonia and sepsis were common. CONCLUSION: Incidence of combined medical problem in the geriatric patients was considerablly high. However, in the case of surgically accesible benign tumor or even malignant tumor, surgical treatment should be considered.