Abstract
Gliomatosis Cerebri (GC) is a rare, aggressive, diffusely infiltrating cerebral tumor. Prognostic indicators and management strategies are currently poorly characterized. The National Cancer Database was queried for patients with histologically confirmed GC between 2004 and 2016. Demographic, tumor, and treatment characteristics were collected, including the Charlson/Deyo score, a comorbidity index adapted from the Charleston Comorbidity Index. Allowable values for the Charlson/Deyo score are 0 (no recorded comorbidities), 1, 2, and 3+ (most severe). Factors associated with overall survival were identified via bivariate log-rank tests and multivariate stepwise Cox proportional hazards models. The query returned 108 GC patients. The median age was 60.0 years, males were predominantly affected (63%), and most patients were white (86%). While 12% of cases achieved near/gross total resection and 27% of cases achieved partial resection, most surgeries were for biopsy (61%). Treatments included radiation therapy in 64% and chemotherapy in 63% of patients. The median overall survival was 15.1 (95% confidence interval [CI]=11.1-24.8) months. On bivariate analysis, chemotherapy improved overall survival (p=0.01) while radiation therapy (p=0.07) and extent of resection (p=0.48) did not. On multivariate analysis, older patients (hazard ratio [HR]=1.07, CI=1.03-1.11, p< 0.01) and Charlson/Deyo scores of ≥1 versus 0 (HR=3.47, CI=1.40-8.60, p< 0.01) had significantly increased mortality risk following surgery. In particular, the Charlson/Deyo score is a novel prognostic factor for GC that may guide clinical and surgical decision-making for this rare, rapidly fatal tumor. Further prospective studies are warranted to clarify the effects of chemotherapy versus radiation as treatment modalities for GC.
Patterns of presentation and failure in patients with gliomatosis cerebri treated with partial-brain radiation therapy
