Search

Brain parenchyma infiltration with glioblastoma (GB) cannot be entirely visualized by conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The aim of this study was to investigate changes in the energy and membrane metabolism measured with phosphorous MR spectroscopy (31P-MRS) in the presumably "normal-appearing" brain following chemoradiation therapy (CRT) in GB patients in comparison to healthy controls. Twenty (seven female, thirteen male) GB patients underwent a 31P-MRS scan prior to surgery (baseline) and after three months of standard CRT (follow-up examination. The regions of interest "contrast-enhancing (CE) tumor" (if present), "adjacent to the (former) tumor", "ipsilateral distant" hemisphere, and "contralateral" hemisphere were compared, differentiating between patients with stable (SD) and progressive disease (PD). Metabolite ratios PCr/ATP, Pi/ATP, PCr/Pi, PME/PDE, PME/PCr, and PDE/ATP were investigated. In PD, energy and membrane metabolism in CE tumor areas have a tendency to "normalize" under therapy. In different "normal-appearing" brain areas of GB patients, the energy and membrane metabolism either "normalized" or were "disturbed", in comparison to baseline or controls. Differences were also detected between patients with SD and PD. 31P-MRS might contribute as an additional imaging biomarker for outcome measurement, which remains to be investigated in a larger cohort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anxiety disorders, depression, and emotional stress during the antepartum period are interlinked with adverse child development. The quality of the dyadic interaction seems to play a crucial role in the transmission of these effects. In this study, we explored the mediating effect of antepartum maternal emotional stress (assessed via the Prenatal Emotional Stress Index) regarding the relationship of antepartum maternal depressive (assessed via the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale), anxiety symptoms (assessed via the Stat-Trait-Anxiety-Inventory), and depressive and anxiety disorders (assessed according to the DSM-IV-TR) in the antepartum period on postpartum interactive quality in a longitudinal design. The Face-to-Face-Still-Face Paradigm (FFSF) and the Infant and Caregiver Engagement Phases (ICEP-R) coding system were used to assess the postpartum interactive qualities of the mother-infant dyads. The sample consisted of 59 women, 38 in the clinical and 21 in the control group. We found significant indirect effects of antepartum depressive symptoms and maternal diagnostic status on the mother's neutral engagement and on the latency to the first social positive interactive match during the interaction – effects that were mediated by antepartum stress. Moreover, there was an indirect effect of state anxiety on neutral engagement – mediated by antepartum stress. Therapeutic intervention studies focusing on maternal antepartum regulation of emotional stress and postpartum interactive patterns might be crucial to encounter maladaptive developmental trajectories. • The association between mental symptoms/disorders and postpartum interactive quality is well established. • We explored if antepartum emotional stress mediates this relationship. • We found a significant indirect effect of antepartum depressive symptoms/disorders on the mother's social monitoring. • We found a significant indirect effect of antepartum depressive symptoms/disorders on the latency to interactive match. • There was an indirect effect of state anxiety on social monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brain metastases (BMs) are classically well-circumscribed lesions. Still, the amount of edema in these neoplasms suggests either mechanisms of infiltration or defense. A better understanding of the mechanisms within the edema of BMs seems reasonable to preoperatively identify areas of potential infiltration and resect them. BMs represent tumors with high energy demand and cell turnover; therefore, they qualify for preoperative investigation with phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31PMRS), which reveals information about those characteristics. Ten patients with BMs were included in this trial. All underwent preoperative standard magnetic resonance imaging with additional 31PMRS. In all patients, 1 voxel within the contrast-enhancing tumor (CE+), 1 voxel at the border (including CE+ areas and surrounding T2-hyperintensive [T2+] areas), and 1 distant voxel purely including T2+ areas were determined by a neuroradiologist and a neurosurgeon. A frameless stereotactic biopsy was performed after craniotomy. Subsequently, the metabolites of the 31PMRS were analyzed and compared with the histopathologic results. Ratios, reflecting resynthesis (CE+/border/T2+: 1.109 ± 0.192/1.112 ± 0.158/1.083 ± 0.097), hydrolysis (0.303 ± 0.089/0.360 ± 0.122/0.321 ± 0.089), energy demand (4.227 ± 2.35/3.453 ± 1.284/3.599 ± 0.833), and membrane turnover (1.239 ± 0.2611/3.453 ± 1.284/3.599 ± 0.283) were calculated and compared intraindividually with a voxel from the contralateral side (resynthesis/hydrolysis/energy demand/membrane turnover: 1.063 ± 0.085/0.335 ± 0.073/3.317 ± 0.7573/0.784 ± 0.186), respectively. Resynthesis showed a trend toward higher ratios in CE+ and border biopsies without reaching statistical significances. This trend was also seen concerning energy demand. Membrane turnover was significantly higher in CE+, border zone, and also in the T2+ areas compared with controls (P > 0.001). 31PMRS in BMs provides information on metabolic changes in tumor and surrounding edema. There is proof of enhanced metabolism in tissue without histologic tumor manifestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Cutis verticis gyrata (CVG) describes a hypertrophy and folding of the skin that appears as gyration of the scalp. Secondary CVG is a common symptom of growth hormone (GH)-producing adenoma of the pituitary and an early sign of acromegaly. We hypothesized that surgical removal of a pituitary adenoma with a consecutive decrease in hormone levels will cause a reduction in gyration. Methods Imaging and laboratory examination of 10 patients (median age: 44 years) with GH-producing adenoma have been evaluated retrospectively. Surgical treatment consisted of endonasal transsphenoidal resection of the adenoma, followed by endocrinologic and radiographic follow-up. CVG was calculated as area under the curve of the scalp on preoperative coronal T1-weighted MRI, compared with postoperative follow-up imaging after 12 months (AUC, measured in cm2). In laboratory examination, the levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) were analyzed accordingly as its levels are constant throughout the day. Results After 12 months, we found a statistically significant (p = 0.008) correlation between the decrease in IGF-1 levels (median: 219.00 ng/mL) and the reduction in CVG (median: 0.12 cm2). Conclusion Resection of GH-producing pituitary adenoma leads to a decrease in CVG in patients suffering from acromegaly, which is strongly related to the levels of IGF-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Gliobastoma is one of the deadliest tumors overall, yet the most common malignant brain tumor. The new World Health Organization Classification of Brain Tumors brought changes in how we look at this type of malignancy. Now we know that glioblastoma is rather a spectrum of similar tumors, but with some distinct characteristics that include molecular footprint, response to therapy and with that overall survival, among others. We hypothesised that by employing phosphorous magnetic resonance we will be able to show differences in cellular energy metabolism in these various subtypes of glioblastoma. For example, we found indices of faster cell reproduction and tumor growth in MGMT-methylated and EGFR-amplified tumors. These tumors also could have reduced energetic state or tissue oxygenation due to the increased necrosis. Tumors with EGFR-amplification could have increased apoptotic activity regardless of their MGMT status. Our study indicated various differences in energetic metabolism in tumors with different molecular characteristics, which could potentially be important in future therapeutic strategies. The World Health Organisation's (WHO) classification of brain tumors requires consideration of both histological appearance and molecular characteristics. Possible differences in brain energy metabolism could be important in designing future therapeutic strategies. Forty-three patients with primary, isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) wild type glioblastomas (GBMs) were included in this study. Pre-operative standard MRI was obtained with additional phosphorous magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31-P-MRS) imaging. Following microsurgical resection of the tumors, biopsy specimens underwent neuropathological diagnostics including standard molecular diagnosis. The spectroscopy results were correlated with epidermal growth factor (EGFR) and O 6 -Methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) status. EGFR amplified tumors had significantly lower phosphocreatine (PCr) to adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-PCr/ATP and PCr to inorganic phosphate (Pi)-PCr/Pi ratios, and higher Pi/ATP and phosphomonoesters (PME) to phosphodiesters (PDE)-PME/PDE ratio than those without the amplification. Patients with MGMT-methylated tumors had significantly higher cerebral magnesium (Mg) values and PME/PDE ratio, while their PCr/ATP and PCr/Pi ratios were lower than in patients without the methylation. In survival analysis, not-EGFR-amplified, MGMT-methylated GBMs showed the longest survival. This group had lower PCr/Pi ratio when compared to MGMT-methylated, EGFR-amplified group. PCr/Pi ratio was lower also when compared to the MGMT-unmethylated, EGFR not-amplified group, while PCr/ATP ratio was lower than all other examined groups. Differences in energy metabolism in various molecular subtypes of wild-type-GBMs could be important information in future precision medicine approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Glioblastoma multiforme is a highly aggressive brain tumor, tending to infiltrate even larger zones of brain tissue than visible on conventional magnetic resonance imaging. By application of phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy in patients with naïve glioblastoma multiforme, we tried to demonstrate changes in energy and membrane metabolism not only in affected regions but also in distant brain regions, the opposite brain hemisphere, and in comparison to healthy volunteers. We found reduced energetic states and signs of increased cell membrane turnover in regions of visible tumor and differences to and between the "normal-appearing" brains of glioblastoma patients and the brains of healthy volunteers. Our pilot study confirmed the feasibility of the method, so differences between various genetic mutations or clinical applicability for follow-up monitoring can be assessed in larger cohorts. Background: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly malignant primary brain tumor with infiltration of, on conventional imaging, normal-appearing brain parenchyma. Phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-MRS) enables the investigation of different energy and membrane metabolites. The aim of this study is to investigate regional differences of 31P-metabolites in GBM brains. Methods: In this study, we investigated 32 patients (13 female and 19 male; mean age 63 years) with naïve GBM using 31P-MRS and conventional MRI. Contrast-enhancing (CE), T2-hyperintense, adjacent and distant ipsilateral areas of the contralateral brain and the brains of age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers were assessed. Moreover, the 31P-MRS results were correlated with quantitative diffusion parameters. Results: Several metabolite ratios between the energy-dependent metabolites and/or the membrane metabolites differed significantly between the CE areas, the T2-hyperintense areas, the more distant areas, and even the brains of healthy volunteers. pH values and Mg2+ concentrations were highest in visible tumor areas and decreased with distance from them. These results are in accordance with the literature and correlated with quantitative diffusion parameters. Conclusions: This pilot study shows that 31P-MRS is feasible to show regional differences of energy and membrane metabolism in brains with naïve GBM, particularly between the different "normal-appearing" regions and between the contralateral hemisphere and healthy controls. Differences between various genetic mutations or clinical applicability for follow-up monitoring have to be assessed in a larger cohort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) describes a pathologic activation of coagulation mechanisms, leading to thrombi in various organs with contribution to multiple organ failure. In clinical practice, diagnosis of DIC can often be made by laboratory values, including prolonged coagulation times, thrombocytopenia, or high levels of fibrin degradation products. DIC is frequently observed after neurotrauma, but rarely occurs in patients with primary brain tumors. There are only few case reports of DIC in patients with primary brain tumors, all sharing the highly elevated mortality. We report the case of a young patient presenting with secondary glioblastoma, who developed multiorgan failure induced by DIC after extensive intraoperative bleeding. Case Description A 30-year-old patient was admitted in poor general condition with insomnia, severe headache, and vomiting. She had undergone surgery for secondary glioblastoma twice. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a left temporoparietal mass lesion with indication for resection. Surgery then was complicated by diffuse intraoperative bleeding due to a high content of microvascular proliferation as shown in the histopathologic workup. Subsequently, an uncontrollable multiorgan failure developed, causing the patient's death 4 days after surgery. Conclusions Although a rare complication, excessive intraoperative bleeding, especially in surgery for brain tumors located next to the ventricular system, DIC should be kept in mind as a possible diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Post-hemorrhagic vasospasm with neurological deterioration is a major concern in this context. NicaPlant®, a modified release formulation of the calcium channel blocker nicardipine, has shown vasodilator efficacy preclinically and a similar formulation known as NPRI has shown anti-vasospasm activity in aSAH patients under compassionate use., Research Question: The study aimed to assess pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of NicaPlant® pellets to prevent vasospasm after clip ligation in aSAH., Material and Methods: In this multicenter, controlled, randomized, dose escalation trial we assessed the safety and tolerability of NicaPlant®. aSAH patients treated by clipping were randomized to receive up to 13 NicaPlant® implants, similarly to the dose of NPRIs previous used, or standard of care treatment., Results: Ten patients across four dose groups were treated with NicaPlant® (3-13 implants) while four patients received standard of care. 45 non-serious and 13 serious adverse events were reported, 4 non-serious adverse events and 5 serious adverse events assessed a probable or possible causal relationship to the investigational medical product. Across the NicaPlant® groups there was 1 case of moderate vasospasm, while in the standard of care group there were 2 cases of severe vasospasm., Discussion and Conclusion: The placement of NicaPlant® during clip ligation of a ruptured cerebral aneurysm raised no safety concern. The dose of 10 NicaPlant® implants was selected for further clinical studies., Competing Interests: TA is Chief Scientific Officer at BIT Pharma; BJ is Chief Executive Officer, co-founder and shareholder at BIT Pharma; VP is consultant and shareholder at BIT Pharma. The other authors declare no conflict of interests., (© 2023 The Authors.)

Primary central nervous system lymphomas (PCNSL) are rare CNS tumors that harbor a conspicuously longer diagnostic delay compared to other malignant brain tumors. The gold standard for diagnosis is stereotactic biopsy to acquire tissue for histopathological analysis and therefore neurosurgery plays a central role when reducing the diagnostic period is mandated. However, histopathological diagnosis could be complicated if the patient was preoperatively exposed to corticosteroids. Besides the histopathological result, diagnosis of a PCNSL also requires full diagnostic workup to exclude cerebral metastatic disease of a systemic lymphoma. Most reviews of PCNSL discuss recent advancements in systemic treatment options from an (neuro-)oncologic viewpoint, whereas our intention was to discuss the optimization of the diagnostic period and therefore describe current standards of imaging, summarizing the diagnostic workup, discussing the surgical workup and future diagnostic prospects as well as the influence of preoperative corticosteroid therapy to reduce the diagnostic delay of PCNSL patients., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Scheichel, Pinggera, Popadic, Sherif, Marhold and Freyschlag.)

Introduction: To date, there are only few studies that compare the consequences of peripartum maternal depressive disorders (PD) versus depressive with comorbid anxiety disorders (PDCA) for infant and child development. As comorbidity is associated with greater impairment and symptom severity related to the primary diagnosis, comorbidity in mothers might raise their offspring's risk of developing internalising or externalising disorders even more than has been noted in conjunction with PD alone., Methods and Analysis: This study aims to analyse the impact of parental psychopathology, particularly peripartum depression in mothers with and without comorbid anxiety disorders according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) on child cognitive and socioemotional development. Maternal/paternal psychopathology, mother-infant/father-infant interaction and child development are assessed at four measurement points over the first 2 years (T1: 3-4 months postpartum, T2: 12 months postpartum, T3: 18 months postpartum and T4: 24 months postpartum). The mediating role of mother-infant/father-infant interaction and infant stress reactivity in the relationship between PD/PDCA and infant cognitive and socioemotional development will be analysed. In the ongoing study, 174 families (n=58 mothers with PD, n=58 mothers with PDCA and n=58 healthy controls) will be recruited in inpatient and outpatient centres as well as maternity hospitals in Munich and Heidelberg., Ethics and Dissemination: This study is implemented in accordance with the current guidelines of the World Medical Association (revised Declaration of Helsinki) and the General Data Protection Regulation of the European Union. The study procedures were approved by the independent ethics committees of the Department of Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich (74_Reck_b) and of the Medical Faculty, University Heidelberg (S-446/2017). Participation is voluntary. A signed written informed consent form must be obtained from each study subject prior to any study-specific procedure. Participants can withdraw from the study at any point in time without giving a reason or being subjected to any future disadvantages. In case of withdrawal from the study, the subject's data and material will be kept unless the participant asks for data removal. Results will be published and disseminated to further the discussion on the effects of maternal PD and PDCA on parent-infant interaction, infant stress reactivity and child development. Furthermore, study results will be presented at international congresses and expert conferences., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Transpedal access is increasingly utilized for the treatment of peripheral artery disease (PAD). Femoral-popliteal artery chronic total occlusions (CTOs) are some of the most difficult lesion subsets that sometimes require the use of re-entry support devices during percutaneous intervention. Limited data is available on the use of re-entry devices when treating femoral-popliteal CTOs via transpedal access. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of using the Outback® Elite re-entry device for the treatment of femoral-popliteal CTOs via the transpedal approach in an outpatient based lab setting., Methods: Seventeen patients presented with femoral-popliteal CTOs in which treatment required the use of the Outback® Elite re-entry device. All procedures were performed in a single outpatient based lab. Patients were followed at 1 week and 1 month post-procedure, with lower extremity arterial duplex ultrasound assessment during the 1 month follow-up., Results: The average patient age was 78 years-old, with 71% being males. Most patients presented with Rutherford class IV symptoms. Procedural success was achieved in all patients with no requirement to convert to femoral artery access in any of the cases. No immediate post-procedural complications nor at any time during follow-up were observed. Ultrasonography at 1 month follow-up showed patent intervention sites and access site vessels in all patients., Conclusion: The use of the Outback® Elite re-entry device for the treatment of femoral-popliteal CTOs via transpedal access is a feasible option and may have potential benefits by avoiding risks associated with traditional femoral artery access.

Background: Preservation of neurologic function is mandatory when offering a surgical intervention to patients with low-grade gliomas (LGGs), given that the goal of any treatment is the patient's return to their normal everyday life., Objective: To determine whether a structured evaluation by an occupational therapist can reveal deficits that might be overseen in routine clinical examination of patients with a surgically treated LGG., Methods: A total of 20 patients with radiographically suspected LGG were examined in a standardized fashion at 3 stages: preoperatively, postoperatively, and 3 months thereafter. Results were analyzed descriptively., Results: A total of 19 patients (95%) showed no postoperative motor deficit; one suffered from akinesia due to supplementary motor area involvement and demonstrated a transient deficit with manifestation on the first postoperative day. Patients with eloquent LGGs, involving speech (n = 6, 30%), exhibited different transient speech disturbances according to the location of the lesion. Structured testing revealed a postoperative worsening of movement mirroring (upper extremity) and finger discrimination (sensory) in 5 of 20 patients (25%). Force meter evaluation of the upper extremity was decreased significantly postoperatively for the affected hemisphere, even though motor deficits were absent in most patients. The action research arm test detected deterioration in more than one half of the patients postoperatively. Patients recovered from these deficits within the first 3 months., Conclusions: Routine clinical examination and neuropsychological evaluation fail to detect mild deficits in sensory function, reactivity, and apraxia, which may have a serious impact on patients' ability to return to their normal lives and work., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Intraoperative mapping and monitoring techniques for eloquent area tumors are routinely used world wide. Very few data are available regarding mapping and monitoring methods and preferences, intraoperative seizures occurrence and perioperative antiepileptic drug management. A questionnaire was sent to 20 European centers with experience in intraoperative mapping or neurophysiological monitoring for the treatment of eloquent area tumors. Fifteen centers returned the completed questionnaires. Data was available on 2098 patients. 863 patients (41.1%) were operated on through awake surgery and intraoperative mapping, while 1235 patients (58.8%) received asleep surgery and intraoperative electrophysiological monitoring or mapping. There was great heterogeneity between centers with some totally AW oriented (up to 100%) and other almost totally ASL oriented (up to 92%) (31% SD). For awake surgery, 79.9% centers preferred an asleep-awake-asleep anesthesia protocol. Only 53.3% of the centers used ECoG or transcutaneous EEG. The incidence of intraoperative seizures varied significantly between centers, ranging from 2.5% to 54% (p < 0.001). It there appears to be a statistically significant link between the mastery of mapping technique and the risk of intraoperative seizures. Moreover, history of preoperative seizures can significantly increase the risk of intraoperative seizures (p < 0.001). Intraoperative seizures occurrence was similar in patients with or without perioperative drugs (12% vs. 12%, p = 0.2). This is the first European survey to assess intraoperative functional mapping and monitoring protocols and the management of peri- and intraoperative seizures. This data can help identify specific aspects that need to be investigated in prospective and controlled studies.

Background: Spondylosis leads to an overestimation of bone mineral density (BMD) with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) but not with quantitative computed tomography (QCT). The correlation between degenerative changes of the spine and QCT-BMD was therefore investigated for the first time., Methods: One hundred thirty-four patients (66 female and 68 male) with a mean age of 49.0 ± 14.6 years (range: 19-88 years) who received a CT scan and QCT-BMD measurements of spine and hip were evaluated retrospectively. The occurrence and severity of spondylosis, osteochondrosis, and spondylarthrosis and the height of the vertebral bodies were assessed., Results: A negative correlation was found between spinal BMD and number of spondylophytes (ρ = -0.35; p < 0.01), disc heights (r = -0.33; p < 0.01), number of discal air inclusions (ρ = -0.34; p < 0.01), the number of Schmorl nodules (ρ = -0.25; p < 0.01), the number (ρ = -0.219; p < 0.05) and the degree (ρ = -0.220; p < 0.05) of spondylarthrosis. Spinal and hip BMD correlated moderately, but the latter did not correlate with degenerative changes of the spine. In linear regression models age, osteochondrosis and spondylarthrosis were factors influencing spinal BMD., Conclusion: Degenerative spinal changes may be associated with reduced regional spinal mineralization. This knowledge could lead to a modification of treatment of degenerative spine disease with early treatment of osteopenia to prevent secondary fractures.

Aim: Due to their high rate of neo-angiogenesis, malignant gliomas may qualify for treatment with anti-angiogenic substances. We report on a series of patients with malignant glioma not eligible for standard postoperative combined radiochemotherapy due to decreased health status., Patients and Methods: A total of nine patients with malignant glioma, postoperatively presenting with a Karnofsky performance score (KPS) below 70, were treated with standalone metronomic low-dose chemotherapy with temozolomide and celecoxib (cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitor). Overall survival was defined as the primary end-point and the functional status (KPS) and time to progression as secondary end-points of our analysis., Results: The median KPS after surgery was 60. Treatment achieved a decrease in tumor and edema volume and, more importantly, preserved the functional status defined as the ability to care for self (KPS 70%) until disease progression. No notable side-effects were recorded., Conclusion: In patients with decreased general condition (KPS <70), not eligible for standard treatment, anti-angiogenic therapy offers a reasonable alternative approach. Our results indicate prolonged survival and preserved quality of life in comparison to best supportive care., (Copyright© 2015 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved.)

Background: Regardless of current multimodal treatment strategies, the prognosis of patients harboring glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is still dismal. The introduction of concomitant radiochemotherapy and adjuvant cyclic temozolomide has significantly improved the overall survival, compared to postoperative radiotherapy-alone. Furthermore this regimen shows a lower toxicity profile compared to previous nitrosourea-based chemotherapy and can easily be applied on an outpatient basis, thus potentially facilitating chemotherapy in rural and more remote areas. The distance to the oncological center has been shown to be a negative prognostic parameter in other types of cancer. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether the introduction of temozolomide as the standard regimen in the treatment of GBM has influenced the administration of chemotherapy and the prognosis of patients depending on the distance to our neurooncological center., Patients and Methods: A total of 208 patients diagnosed with GBM (M:F=1.4:1), surgically resected between 1990 and 2009, thus covering the pre-temozolomide and the temozolomide-era, were included retrospectively in this analysis. The distance from the patients' residences to the neurooncological center was determined and statistical analysis was performed to assess its influence on overall survival and administration of adjuvant treatment (radiotherapy-only, nitrosourea-based chemotherapy and adjuvant temozolomide)., Results: Overall, 41.3% of the cohort underwent subtotal surgical resection, whereas a gross total resection was accomplished in 57.2%. The median distance to the neurooncological center was 75 km (range=1-870 km). Postoperatively, 68 patients (32.7%) received concomitant and adjuvant radiochemotherapy with temozolomide, 31 (14.9%) were treated with nitrosourea other than the Procarbazin, Lomustin, Vincristin (PCV), 34 (16.3%) with PCV, and 71 patients (34.1%) had radiotherapy-alone. The distance to the neurooncological center had a significant influence on overall survival for the whole cohort (p=0.027) and patients with increasing distances, were significantly less often treated with chemotherapy (p=0.05). With the introduction of temozolomide this relation was lost (overall survival, temozolomide and other agents: p=0.685/p=0.007; administration of adjuvant chemotherapy in the temozolomide-era/whole cohort: p=0.612/p=0.05)., Conclusion: The distance to the neurooncological center negatively-influenced the prognosis of patients with GBM. Patients were less often treated with adjuvant chemotherapy in the pre-temozolomide era with increasing distance to the neurooncological center. Although the introduction of temozolomide as the standard chemotherapeutic agent in GBM treatment changed this fact, the influence of the distance to the specialized center should be kept in mind as a prognostic factor for this disease.