A Comparative Retrospective Survival Analysis Study of Brain Tumor Patients in Age Less Than or Equal to 50 Years versus More Than 50 Years of Age.

Abstract

Introduction Approximately 2.5% of fatalities from cancer are caused by brain tumors. Even though there is literature regarding prognostic factor of adult brain tumor, studies often resort to Western demographics. Hence, we conducted this retrospective observational study to compare the demographic characteristics and prognosis in patients of glial tumors in Indian population with histological diagnosis with respect to age. Materials and Methods A single-center retrospective observational study with 76 patients of glioma who had been treated with surgery combined with radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy was conducted. Group I patients were aged less than or equal to 50 years and group II more than 50 years of age. There were 28 patients in group I and 48 in group II. Postoperatively, external beam radiation therapy was delivered in a conventional fraction (1.8 Gy/fraction, five fractions/week) using telecobalt 60. Ill patients who presented with grade III and IV gliomas received oral chemotherapy temozolomide at a dose of 100 mg daily during course of radiotherapy. Results The median age of the patients at the time of diagnosis was 45.0 years. More cases of hematologic toxicity occurred in group I than in group II. Total 55 patients were alive at 1-year follow-up (11 in group I and 44 in group II). Conclusion Grade I and II gliomas were predominant in less than 50 years of age and grade III and IV were predominant in more than 50 years age. Male preponderance was seen in age group of more than 50 years (68%). Overall survival and disease-free survival were better for patients aged less than 50 years.