Abstract
BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the distribution of glioma-related seizures and seizure control at the time of tumor diagnosis with respect to tumor histologic subtypes, tumor treatment and patient characteristics, and to compare seizure history preceding tumor diagnosis (or study enrollment) between glioma patients and healthy controls.MethodsThe Glioma International Case Control study (GICC) risk factor questionnaire collected information on demographics, past medical/medication history, and occupational history. Cases from eight centers were also asked detailed questions on seizures in relation to glioma diagnosis; cases (n = 4533) and controls (n = 4171) were also asked about seizures less than 2 years from diagnosis and previous seizure history more than 2 years prior to tumor diagnosis, including childhood seizures.ResultsLow-grade gliomas (LGGs), particularly oligodendrogliomas/oligoastrocytomas, had the highest proportion of glioma-related seizures. Patients with low-grade astrocytoma demonstrated the most medically refractory seizures. A total of 83% of patients were using only one antiepileptic drug (AED), which was levetiracetam in 71% of cases. Gross total resection was strongly associated with reduced seizure frequency (p < 0.009). No significant difference was found between glioma cases and controls in terms of seizure occurring more than 2 years before diagnosis or during childhood.ConclusionsOur study showed that glioma-related seizures were most common in low-grade gliomas. Gross total resection was associated with lower seizure frequency. Additionally, having a history of childhood seizures is not a risk factor ***for developing glioma-related seizures or glioma.
Highlights
Epileptic seizures are among the most common presenting symptom in patients with glioma [1]
Patients with Low-grade gliomas (LGGs) were younger at diagnosis (30–39 years) than patients with anaplastic glioma (40–59 years) or glioblastoma (50–69 years)
We found that patients with low-grade astrocytoma patients had significantly more recurrent seizures in spite of combined antiepileptic treatments
Summary
Epileptic seizures are among the most common presenting symptom in patients with glioma [1]. Glioma-related seizures may occur at different time points during the course of a patients’ illness, and can present either as focal seizures with or without impairment of consciousness or evolving to. Results Low-grade gliomas (LGGs), oligodendrogliomas/oligoastrocytomas, had the highest proportion of glioma-related seizures. Gross total resection was strongly associated with reduced seizure frequency (p < 0.009). No significant difference was found between glioma cases and controls in terms of seizure occurring more than 2 years before diagnosis or during childhood. Conclusions Our study showed that glioma-related seizures were most common in low-grade gliomas. Gross total resection was associated with lower seizure frequency. Having a history of childhood seizures is not a risk factor ***for developing glioma-related seizures or glioma
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