FAQ

Tumour Cures

Can Neurosurgery Cure Brain Tumours? Radical macroscopic removal of low grade gliomas in children can be curative. Also, most extra-axial tumours, such as meningiomas, craniopharyngiomas and pituitary adenomas can be cured if removed totally. This cannot be said for high grade tumours in children and adults. The feasibility of curative surgery for low grade gliomas in adults remains unknown.

Is there scientific evidence for the benefit of radical resection of primary brain tumours?

Low grade Gliomas:

Laws ER Jr. Resection of low-grade gliomas. J Neurosurg. 2001 Nov;95(5):p731-2.
"Clearly, the more cells at risk, the more likely a tumor is to undergo the series of genetic events that ultimately leads to a more aggressive or malignant glioma. (Therefore), based on what we currently believe, the strategy of recommending radical resection of gliomas of the brain is probably a sound one."

Malignant Gliomas:

Lacroix M. et al. A multivariate analysis of 416 patients with glioblastoma multiforme: prognosis, extent of resection, and survival. J Neurosurg 2001 Aug;95(2):p190-8.
"Gross-total tumor resection is associated with longer survival in patients with GBM, especially when other predictive variables are favorable."

Nitta T, Sato K. Prognostic implications of the extent of surgical resection in patients with intracranial malignant gliomas. Cancer 1995 Jun 1;75(11):p2727-31.
"The favorable prognosis of patients with malignant gliomas depends upon the total resection of these tumors."

Chandler KL et al. Long-term survival in patients with glioblastoma multiforme. Neurosurgery 1993 May;32(5):p716-20.
"Among patients with glioblastoma multiforme, long-term survival is most likely for those who have a long disease-free interval after the initial diagnosis and receive multimodal therapy, including aggressive tumor removal."