Intracranial astrocytoma in elderly patients.

Because little is known about intracranial astrocytomas occurring in those in the increasing geriatric population, twenty-three persons evaluated at the university affiliated hospitals over a 26-year period are reported. Progressive mental dysfunctions and motor deficits were the most common manifestations of disease. Glioblastoma multiforme was the predominant (87%) histopathologic diagnosis. The overall median period of survival in 21 evaluable individuals was four (range 0 to 15) months. Median survival was longer in patients who were more functional, who had tumors located in the temporal lobes of the brain, and who received more than one treatment modality. The absence of intercurrent disease or being in a younger 'elderly' age group was not associated with an improvement in prognosis. The poor survival of this group as well as the survivals quoted in the literature for those with glioblastoma multiforme demands a new therapeutic approach.