INTRODUCTION: There is no clear definitive follow up surveillance imaging guideline after the completion of primary therapy in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Here we provide the first report analysing international, national and local guidelines in GBM imaging surveillance. METHOD: We performed a systematic review of GBM management guidelines indexed in PUBMED and EMBASE databases up until October 2013. We also searched for GBM guidelines on websites of relevant international and national societies. To clarify local recommendations within the UK, we reviewed all guideline documents produced by local neuro-oncology multidisciplinary teams (MDTs; n = 28) in the UK accessed via the Care Quality Improvement Network (CQuIN) database. For all the relevant guidelines identified, we extracted imaging recommendations for the period following completion of primary therapy. RESULTS: Out of the identified guidelines produced by international and national societies, only 6 had follow up imaging guidelines with variability in imaging frequency ranging from 1-2 monthly (1 guideline), 2-4 monthly (1), 2-3 monthly (2), to 3-4 monthly (2). Twenty out of the 28 neuro-oncology MDTs had imaging guidelines. Of these, 18 had guidelines on imaging after completion of primary therapy, with also a wide variability in imaging frequency from 2 monthly (2 guidelines), 2-4 monthly (1), 3 monthly (6), 3-4 monthly (1), 3-6 monthly (2), 6 monthly (4), and yearly (2). CONCLUSION: The guidelines for follow up imaging surveillance after the completion of primary therapy in GBM are variable. Future studies should assess effectiveness of these guidelines in detecting assymptomatic GBM recurrence.
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