SummaryStudy conducted by Discipline
Introduction:The general management of high-grade gliomas is based on surgery plus radiotherapy and chemotherapy. However, in developing countries, the lack of financial resources may delay the treatment, and probably affect patients' outcome. Based on this, the aim of this study is to review the clinical data of high-grade glioma patients treated in a brazilian referral public hospital. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data with emphasis on the management options (surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy) of high grade glioma patients from 2007 to 2014 at the University of Campinas (Unicamp) hospital. Results: A total of 135 patients (27% of all brain tumors) had the diagnosis of high-grade glioma and were included. The mean age of high-grade glioma patients at the time of diagnosis was 57 years and 2 months. There were 90 men (67%) and 44 women (33%). The outpatient referral system was responsible for only 15 (11%) admissions with 120 (89%) patients being admitted through the emergency unit. Headache was the main complaint and 90.3% of the patients had been symptomatic for over 2 weeks and 14,8% for over 12 weeks. After surgery 56% were treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy.Radiotherapy was the single therapy for 25% of the cases. Another 19% were referred to supportive care. After surgery patients took a median 6.71 weeks to the first radiotherapy consultation, 6.28 weeks to the first clinical oncology consultation and a median 12.57 weeks to start radiation. Only 12% started radiation in less than 6 weeks. Tumor progression requiring a second surgery was observed in 27 patients in the delayed therapy group (> 6weeks) compared with no patients in the early therapy (< 6 weeks) group (P=.002). Glioblastoma Multiforme patients overall survival was 7.8x months. Conclusion: Although surgery, radiation and temozolamide were available at our institution only 56% of the patients received all these treatments and only 12% started radiation in less than 6 weeks. These numbers fail in comparison to many studies published in developed countries but are similar to others published in developing nations. The same applies to the overall survival calculated for glioblastoma patients. This study supports that financial constrictions in public health care in developing countries have a negative impact on high-grade glioma treatment.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.