ependymomas, pilonidal astrocytomas, medulloblastomas, and intracranial germ cell tumors are rare in adults. IKNL researcher Vincent Ho and colleagues determined the incidence, treatment, and survival patterns of these brain tumors in adult patients over a 30-year period. The results have been published in Neuro-oncology advances.
To get this background information, the researchers analyzed data from 1,384 neuroblastomas, 454 pilonidal astrocytomas, 205 medulloblastomas and 112 intracranial germ cell tumors from the Dutch Cancer Registry (NKR). For each tumor type, they reported trends in incidence, main treatments, and patient survival.
Incidence and survival rates have generally remained stable for pilonidal astrocytoma, medulloblastomas and germ cell tumors. An increased incidence of spinal ependymomas is noted, most commonly for papillary mucinous ependymoma. Survival rate improved over time for grade II ependymomas.
In most cases, the operation involved excision of all types of tumors, in which as much tumor material as possible was removed. More than 87% of all patients underwent resection, except for patients with germ cell tumors, especially germ cell tumors, in which only 28% of patients underwent resection.
Because of the rarity and complex biology of these brain tumors in adults, standard treatment protocols are needed. This study provides information to assess changes in diagnosis and to monitor patient outcomes over time.
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