A staging system for brain stem gliomas.

Intrinsic brain stem neoplasms are almost invariably malignant, and irrespective of radiation treatment and chemotherapy, are associated with a very abbreviated survival. It is possible that occasional long-term survival is the result of a radiation-sensitive low-grade astrocytoma. It is suggested that a primary staging system may separate poor-risk and good-risk patient populations and that this classification may be important in assessing future therapeutic options.