INTRODUCTION: The influence of surgery, radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy on the outcome on the results in patients with malignant gliomas is controversial. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied 44 patients (26, women; 18 men; age 38 72 years) diagnosed with grades III and IV astrocytoma who had been operated and then received adjuvant radiotherapy and either BCNU or temozolamyde chemotherapy. Survival time and adverse effects of the chemotherapy were analysed. CONCLUSION: Aggressive surgery associated with radiotherapy and temozolamyde chemotherapy prolonged survival in our patients with malignant astrocytomas.
INTRODUCTION: The influence of surgery, radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy on the outcome on the results in patients with malignant gliomas is controversial. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied 44 patients (26, women; 18 men; age 38 72 years) diagnosed with grades III and IV astrocytoma who had been operated and then received adjuvant radiotherapy and either BCNU or temozolamyde chemotherapy. Survival time and adverse effects of the chemotherapy were analysed. CONCLUSION: Aggressive surgery associated with radiotherapy and temozolamyde chemotherapy prolonged survival in our patients with malignant astrocytomas.