A review of the treatment and survival rates of 138 patients with glioblastoma multiforme.

This article reviews the cases of 138 patients at the Charleston Area Medical Center who were treated for glioblastoma multiforme (astrocytoma Grade IV) between 1966-1987. Data was obtained from the hospital's tumor registry, inpatient/outpatient records, pathology reports, as well as radiotherapy records. The median survival rate for all patients was 7 months (range 1-36 months). The median survival of the patients who underwent complete resection and received radiotherapy was 12 months, while the median survival rate was four months for patients who had complete resection but did not undergo radiotherapy. In addition, the median survival of the patients who underwent incomplete resection with radiotherapy was 10 months compared to a survival rate of 3 months of those who did not undergo radiotherapy after incomplete resection. Radiotherapy was the most significant predictor of survival with age being the major factor. Despite the clinical advancements made in the past 10-15 years, no impact has yet been achieved on the natural history of glioblastoma multiforme.