Malignant brain tumors in the elderly.

The increase in the incidence of primary brain tumors in the elderly over the last decade represents a serious problem because of the severe disability and risk of death associated with this disease. Surgery remains the mainstay of the management of malignant gliomas, and the magnitude of the resection correlates with the length of survival. The additional standard treatment modalities are reviewed. This article also discusses novel approaches being evaluated to treat both newly diagnosed and recurrent brain tumors.