Clinical presentation and surgical management of glomatosis cerebri

Abstract EN

Background: Glomatosis Cerebri (GC) is a diffuse brain neoplasm whose prognosis is unfavourable.

Aim: to investigate the clinical presentation, radiological and pathological features, and outcomes after treatment of GC.

Patients and Methods: We collected data from fifteen patients with GC treated at Suez Canal University, during a ten-year period.

The diagnosis was based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and tissue biopsy of all patients except one patient who received blind radiotherapy.

Results: Seven patients were male (47% ), and their median age at presentation was 43 years (range, 6 75 years).

Statistical analysis demonstrated median survival as follows: blind radiotherapy, 1 month (n = 1); biopsy then radiotherapy, 19 months (8 32 months; n = 9); subtotal excision then radiotherapy, 5 months (1-7 months; n=5).

Karnofsky Performance Scale scores of 70 and tumor grade were both significantly related to length of survival.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that biopsies are useful not only for diagnosis but also for prediction of the length of survival.