Effect of Reoperation on Survival of Patients With Glioblastoma

Objective: Surgical resection is the most important part of glioblastoma treatment. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of reoperation on survival of patients with glioblastoma. Methods: Records of the glioblastoma patients operated between 2001 and 2010 by the senior author were analyzed retrospectively. Comparisons were made between patients who received ( Reoperation group, n=50) and who did not receive (Monooperation group, n=111) reoperation with regard to age, gender, tumor localization, number of operations and length of survival. Results: No significant difference was found between two groups in terms of age, gender, and tumor localization. Mean follow-up duration was 12.7 months (range: 1-96 month). Mean lengths of survival after the first operation were 26.7 +/- 4.0 months and 12.2 +/- 1.6 months in the reoperation and monooperation groups, respectively (p<0.001). Regression analysis revealed that reoperation was the only prognostic factor determining the survival in recurrent malignant glial tumors. Moreover, surgical site was shown to affect survival; rate of mortality in patients operated on temporal side was statistically greater than that in patients operated on parietal side (p=0.01). Conclusion: Despite modern treatment strategies, reoperation is still the most important factor determining the length of survival in recurrent glioblastoma.