Search

Introduction. Gliomas are the most common brain tumours derived from the neuro-epithelial tissue, yet they display differences in morphology, grading and prognosis. The Lithuanian Cancer Registry includes all brain tumours however they are not morphologically distinguished. The aim. To determine the distribution and dynamics of diagnosed glial brain tumours over ten years (2004-2013) according to morphology and association between diagnosis, grading and demographic data (gender, age). Methods. A retrospective analysis of the histological samples of glial tumours that were investigated in the Clinic of Pathological Anatomy of Hospital of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences between 2004-2013 was performed. The cases of newly diagnosed and recurrent malignant gliomas were selected. The studied were grouped according to morphology, the World Health Organization (WHO) grading system (I°-IV°), age and gender. Results. Out of analysed 1572 histological tissue sample of glial brain tumours, 1308 were primary and 264 recurrent tumours. According to gender, 52.1% were women (N=819), and 47.9% men (N=753). Mean age of the studied was 49.6± 19.4 years (women - 51.5±18.9, men - 47.5±19.7) (p<0.05). Total mean age of patients with primary glial tumour was 50.8±19.4 years (women - 52.7± 19.1, men - 48.8± 19.6) (p<0.05). The highest mean age was in the astrocytoma group (52.2±19.4), the lowest - in the ependymoma group (40.4±21.7, p<0.001), the highest mean age in subgroups was found in patients with primary glioblastoma (59.3±1.8), the lowest - in the pilomyxoid astrocytoma subgroup (10.3±8.7) (p<0.001). Most surgeries were performed for astrocytomas (N= 1111, 84.9%), among which glioblastomas were predominant (N=810; 61.9%). The distribution according to the types of gliomas was as follows: oligodendrogliomas accounted for 5.6% of all cases (N=73), 5.2% - ependymomas (N=68), 4.3% - oligoastrocytomas (N=56). The WHO grade IV0 was found in most studied tissue samples (N=810, 61.9%); in women it was determined in 52.5% of cases (N=425), and in men - in 47.5% (N=385) (p>0.05). The WHO grade 1° (N= 101, 7.7%) was found in 42 women (6.2%), and in 59 men (9%). Most surgeries for glial tumours were performed in 2005 (11.6%), for recurrent tumours - in 2008 (14.0%). Recurrence was determined in 145 women (54.9%) and in 119 men (45.1%). Mean age of patients having surgery for recurrence - 43.7±18.3. Astrocytomas were predominant among recurrent tumours (N=221, 83.7%), glioblastomas accounted for the major part (N=126, 47.7%). Mostly recurrent tumours were found in patients with the WHO IV° (N=126, 47.7%), while lower recurrence was determined in patients with the WHO 1° (N=20, 7.6%). The WHO grade did not change in 195 (73.9%) of cases: in 72.4% of women and in 75.6% of men (p>0.05). The changes in the WHO grades were as follows: the WHO 111° to the WHO IV° (20.3%), the WHO IF to the WHO IIP (31.9%), the WHO IF to the WHO IV° (31.9%) (p<0.05). Conclusions. Glial tumours more frequently were found in older women than in men. Younger patients with recurrent tumours were more frequently subjected to surgery. More frequently glioblastoma was found in both primary and recurrent glial tumours. The change in the WHO grade was detected in more than a quater of recurrent glial tumours. Between 2004-2013, the highest number of patients with primary glial tumours who were operated was in 2005 (11.6%), and patients with recurrent tumours undergoing surgery made up 14.0% in 2008. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]