A Population-based Study of Temporal Lobe Malignancies

Abstract

Background: Temporal lobe malignancies can pose a challenge given the important functions of the temporal lobe including auditory and visual sensory processing, language recognition, and memory formation. This study aimed to utilize the 1973-2015 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) to identify demographic and treatment differences affecting overall survival in patients with temporal lobe malignancies. Methods: A search of the SEER database for patients with malignant temporal lobe tumors was performed. The Kaplan Meier method was used to analyze univariate factors affecting overall survival. Logistic regression analysis was used to perform a multivariate analysis of overall survival. Results: A total of 12,690 patients were identified. The male to female ratio was 1.5:1. The majority of patients were treated with surgery as part of their treatment regimen. On univariate analysis surgical vs. nonsurgical treatment, tumor histology, sex, and race significantly affected overall survival. On multivariate analysis race, sex, and surgical vs. nonsurgical treatment significantly affected overall survival. Conclusions: Surgical treatment, non-white race, and female sex were associated with significantly increased overall survival in patients with temporal lobe malignancies.