Periventricular zone involvement as a predictor of survival in glioblastoma patients: A single centre cohort-comparison investigation concerning a distinct clinical entity

Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) contacting the Subventricular Zone (SVZ) may display a more aggressive pattern of invasiveness with higher potential to recruit migratory progenitor cells. We aims to determine the relationships between the location of the lesion and the clinical, molecular characteristics and outcome in patients affected by GBM. Methods: The surgical, radiological and clinical outcomes of patients have been retrospectively reviewed for the present study. All patients have been classified according their anatomical relationship with SVZ in SVZ + and SVZ-. A review of our surgical series was conducted to compare the results of SVZ tumors in regards to clinical and molecular characteristics, localization, and Extent of Resection (EOR). Uni- and Multivariate ANOVA and survival analyses were performed to investigate the cohort. Results: A total of 177 patients were included in the final cohort. A statistical analysis by means of multivariate analyses to demonstrate that SVZ + tumors were significantly associated to a greater volume at presentation, a lesser EOR, lesser functional postoperative outcome and a short overall survival. Conclusions: There are specific characteristics to consider the SVZ + GBMs a specific clinical entity how greater tumors at presentation, clinical associated with Headache and Sensory Disturbances, which are associated to a higher risk of partial resection and with a less satisfactory functional outcome in the early postoperative period. Our multivariate analysis demonstrated a clear and statistically significant survival advantage of cortical GBM over V-SVZ GBM.