BACKGROUND: Radiation-induced glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is particularly resistant to treatment and therapeutic options are limited. We report a patient with a radiation-induced GBM who had a complete response to carmustine and survived for 44 months. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Case report of a 38-year-old man with a radiation-induced GBM that responded to carmustine. RESULTS: Our patient developed a left occipital GBM 35 years after a left cerebellar astrocytoma was treated with surgery and radiation therapy (4500 rad). The GBM was treated with subtotal resection followed by four cycles of carmustine; a complete response was achieved. He relapsed 34 months after diagnosis and with further surgery survived 44 months from his diagnosis of GBM. CONCLUSION: GBMs may be a late complication of radiation treatment for pediatric brain tumors. If further radiotherapy is not a therapeutic option, chemotherapy may result in prolonged survival.
BACKGROUND: Radiation-induced glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is particularly resistant to treatment and therapeutic options are limited. We report a patient with a radiation-induced GBM who had a complete response to carmustine and survived for 44 months. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Case report of a 38-year-old man with a radiation-induced GBM that responded to carmustine. RESULTS: Our patient developed a left occipital GBM 35 years after a left cerebellar astrocytoma was treated with surgery and radiation therapy (4500 rad). The GBM was treated with subtotal resection followed by four cycles of carmustine; a complete response was achieved. He relapsed 34 months after diagnosis and with further surgery survived 44 months from his diagnosis of GBM. CONCLUSION: GBMs may be a late complication of radiation treatment for pediatric brain tumors. If further radiotherapy is not a therapeutic option, chemotherapy may result in prolonged survival.
Authors: D J Brat; C D James; A E Jedlicka; D C Connolly; E Chang; R J Castellani; M Schmid; M Schiller; D A Carson; P C Burger Journal: Am J Pathol Date: 1999-05 Impact factor: 4.307
Authors: Michelle L Monje; Naren R Ramakrishna; Geoffrey Young; Jan Drappatz; Lisa M Doherty; Patrick Y Wen; Santosh Kesari Journal: J Neurooncol Date: 2007-03-01 Impact factor: 4.130