Intramedullary Astrocytoma – a Series of 15 Patients and Literature Overview
Authors:
V. Beneš lll 1; O. Bradáč 2; S. Ostrý 2; P. Buchvald 1; F. Kramář 2; M. Kaiser 1; P. Suchomel 1; V. Beneš Jr 2
Authors‘ workplace:
Neurochirurgické oddělení, Krajská nemocnice Liberec, a. s.
1; Neurochirurgická klinika 1. LF UK, IPVZ a ÚVN Praha
2
Published in:
Cesk Slov Neurol N 2010; 73/106(2): 169-177
Category:
Short Communication
Overview
Intramedullary astrocytoma is one of the less common tumours of the central nervous system. Certain ambiguities in the literature led us to make a retrospective review of a series of our own (2003–2009) and to compare the results with available literature. This series comprised 15 patients (10 women, 5 men), mean age 42.6 years. According to the McCormick scale, 5 patients were class I, 4 class II, 1 class III and 5 class IV. No tumour was radically resected, while 11 patients underwent subtotal resection, 4 only biopsy. Morbidity/mortality was 20% (1 dead and 2 patients deteriorating on the McCormick scale). Thirteen tumours were classified as low‑grade, 1 as grade III and one as glioblastoma. During the follow‑up period (mean 29.3 months) 5 patients died, 4 due to tumour progression. Median overall survival was estimated at 35.8 months. Younger age (p = 0.03), male sex (p = 0.04) and the presence of tumour cyst (p = 0.01) were identified as positive prognostic factors influencing overall survival. Other prognostic factors from the literature are discussed and treatment recommendations are made on the basis of its reviewing.
Key words:
intramedullary tumor – astrocytoma – survival – prognostic factors – literature review
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Paediatric neurology Neurosurgery NeurologyArticle was published in
Czech and Slovak Neurology and Neurosurgery
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