Glioblastoma Multiforme

Objectives: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) has the highest malignancy grade in the astrocitic tumor group besides being the most common central nervous system tumor in adults. This paper aims to evaluate if the following factors: age, Karnofski Performance Status (KPS), extension of surgical removal, radiotherapy (RT), tumor volume and symptoms duration influenced the survival. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of GBM operated on at Hospital dos Servidores do Estado between 1986 and 2008. Results: We could observe that age, KPS and radiotherapy influenced the survival of patients. The other variables studied didnot have any prognostic implications. Conclusions: Despite many researches and several improvements regarding diagnosis and surgical techniques, the survivalof patients presenting with GBM could not be changed in the last 30 years. Surgical resection followed by RT is the standard treatment for patients with GBM. The importance of each prognostic factor is still to be established in a multivariate analysis.