Cost-effectiveness of 5-aminolevulinic acid-induced fluorescence in malignant glioma surgery.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the cost-effectiveness of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA, Gliolan®) in patients undergoing surgery for malignant glioma, in standard clinical practice conditions in Spain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cost-effectiveness ratios were determined in terms of incremental cost per complete resection (CR) and incremental cost per additional quality-adjusted life year (QALY), based on data collected in the VISIONA observational study. RESULTS: Incremental cost with 5-ALA versus conventional surgery using white light only amounts to € 4550 per additional CR achieved and € 9021 per QALY gained. A sensitivity analysis shows these results to be robust. CONCLUSION: Malignant glioma surgery guided by 5-ALA fluorescence entails a moderate increase in hospital costs compared to current surgical practice and can be considered a cost-effective innovation.

Observational, retrospective study of the effectiveness of 5-aminolevulinic acid in malignant glioma surgery in Spain (The VISIONA study).

OBJECTIVE: To assess effectiveness of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA, Gliolan(®)) in patients treated for malignant glioma under typical daily practice conditions in Spain, using complete resection rate (CR) and progression free survival at 6 months (PFS6). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective review of data from 18 neurosurgery departments that were categorised as either using or not using 5-ALA. The study included adult patients with suspected malignant gliomas for whom the intended treatment plan included complete resection followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy with temozolomide. Postoperative MRI and clinical data representing at least 6 months were required for inclusion. Rates of CR and PFS6 were compared between patients with 5-ALA treatment and those without. RESULTS: The study included 251 evaluable cases. CR and PFS6 rates were significantly higher in the group of patients treated surgically with 5-ALA: CR, 67% versus 45%, p=.000; PFS6 for patients with grade IV tumours, 69% versus 48%; p=.002. The differences retained their significance and magnitude after adjusting for all covariates including age, functional status, and whether gliomas were located in eloquent areas. CONCLUSIONS: In this retrospective series, use of 5-ALA during habitual surgical procedures in Spain was associated with a higher complete resection rate for malignant glioma and increased PFS6 for grade iv glioma.

Tumor cerebral y embarazo / Brain tumor and pregnancy

Introducción: la asociación de un cáncer con un embarazo pone en juego dos pronósticos vitales: el de la madre y el del feto. Objetivo: describir un caso clínico de una paciente con tumor cerebral asociado al embarazo. Métodos: paciente femenina de 34 años de edad, nulípara, que a las 25 sem de embarazo se le diagnostica un tumor cerebral y se le realiza craniectomía de fosa posterior, bulbotomía y evacuación del quiste en el hospital Hermanos Ameijeiras, en La Habana. A las 31 sem de edad gestacional fue remitida al hospital Ramón González Coro para vigilancia del bienestar fetal y materno con la recomendación de cesárea electiva si es posible al término de la gestación por indicación neurológica. Se utilizaron los inductores de la madurez pulmonar fetal por la posibilidad de terminar la gestación antes del término. Progresa sin incidentes hasta las 38 sem de gestación, momento en que se le practica la cesárea. Resultados: se obtuvo un recién nacido vivo, femenino, con peso de 2 600 g y apgar 9/9. La madre y el neonato evolucionaron satisfactoriamente hasta el alta. Se remitió a la madre nuevamente al hospital "Hermanos Ameijeiras" para su control y seguimiento posoperatorio. Conclusiones: la presencia de una tumoración cerebral asociada al embarazo implica un alto riesgo de morbilidad y mortalidad materna y perinatal, por lo que requiere de un manejo multidisciplinario para lograr óptimos resultados(AU)

Introduction: the association of cancer with a pregnancy involves two vital forecasts: mother and her fetus. Objective: to describe a case of a patient with brain tumor associated with pregnancy.Methods: A 34 year- old female patient, who was nulliparous, and at 25 weeks of pregnancy was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She underwent a posterior fossa craniectomy, bulbotomy and cyst evacuation at Hermanos Ameijeiras hospital in Havana. At 31 weeks of her gestational stage, she was sent to the Ramón González Coro Maternity hospital for monitoring fetal and maternal well-being with the recommendation of elective cesarean if possible at the end of gestation as it was neurologically indicated. Lung maturity fetal inducers were used by the possibility of terminating this pregnancy before term. This pregnancy uneventfully progressed until 38 weeks of gestation, when Caesarean section was conducted. Results: a live female infant was obtained; she weighed 2 600 g and had Apgar 9/9. Mother and infant recovered satisfactorily to discharge. This mother was referred back to Hermanos Ameijeiras hospital for postoperative monitoring and control.Conclusions: the presence of a brain tumor associated with pregnancy carries a high risk of morbidity and maternal and perinatal mortality, therefore this issue requires a multidisciplinary approach to achieve optimal results(AU)

Tumor cerebral y embarazo / Brain tumor and pregnancy

Introducción: la asociación de un cáncer con un embarazo pone en juego dos pronósticos vitales: el de la madre y el del feto. Objetivo: describir un caso clínico de una paciente con tumor cerebral asociado al embarazo. Métodos: paciente femenina de 34 años de edad, nulípara, que a las 25 sem de embarazo se le diagnostica un tumor cerebral y se le realiza craniectomía de fosa posterior, bulbotomía y evacuación del quiste en el hospital "Hermanos Ameijeiras", en La Habana. A las 31 sem de edad gestacional fue remitida al hospital "Ramón González Coro" para vigilancia del bienestar fetal y materno con la recomendación de cesárea electiva si es posible al término de la gestación por indicación neurológica. Se utilizaron los inductores de la madurez pulmonar fetal por la posibilidad de terminar la gestación antes del término. Progresa sin incidentes hasta las 38 sem de gestación, momento en que se le practica la cesárea. Resultados: se obtuvo un recién nacido vivo, femenino, con peso de 2 600 g y apgar 9/9. La madre y el neonato evolucionaron satisfactoriamente hasta el alta. Se remitió a la madre nuevamente al hospital "Hermanos Ameijeiras" para su control y seguimiento posoperatorio. Conclusiones: la presencia de una tumoración cerebral asociada al embarazo implica un alto riesgo de morbilidad y mortalidad materna y perinatal, por lo que requiere de un manejo multidisciplinario para lograr óptimos resultados.

Introduction: the association of cancer with a pregnancy involves two vital forecasts: mother and her fetus. Objective: to describe a case of a patient with brain tumor associated with pregnancy. Methods: A 34 year- old female patient, who was nulliparous, and at 25 weeks of pregnancy was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She underwent a posterior fossa craniectomy, bulbotomy and cyst evacuation at Hermanos Ameijeiras hospital in Havana. At 31 weeks of her gestational stage, she was sent to the Ramón González Coro Maternity hospital for monitoring fetal and maternal well-being with the recommendation of elective cesarean if possible at the end of gestation as it was neurologically indicated. Lung maturity fetal inducers were used by the possibility of terminating this pregnancy before term. This pregnancy uneventfully progressed until 38 weeks of gestation, when Caesarean section was conducted. Results: a live female infant was obtained; she weighed 2 600 g and had Apgar 9/9. Mother and infant recovered satisfactorily to discharge. This mother was referred back to Hermanos Ameijeiras hospital for postoperative monitoring and control. Conclusions: the presence of a brain tumor associated with pregnancy carries a high risk of morbidity and maternal and perinatal mortality, therefore this issue requires a multidisciplinary approach to achieve optimal results.