The impact of tumour volume and surgery on the outcome of adults with supratentorial WHO grade II astrocytomas and oligoastrocytomas

Background: The study was performed to elucidate the impact of tumour volume and surgical resection on the long-term outcome of patients with supratentorial, diffuse, World Health Organization (WHO) grade II astrocytomas and oligo-astrocytomas.

Method: After analysing 79 adult patients consecutively diagnosed between 1991 and 2000, we selected a group of 42 patients treated by surgery without adjuvant therapy. The tumour volume was defined as the whole region of T2-hyperintensity and measured interactively on pre- and postoperative and follow-up Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) using a dedicated imaging software. Volumetric, clinical, and histological data were analysed for correlation with tumour progression (TP), malignant transformation (MT), drop in functional status (DKPS) and overall survival (OS).

Findings: Pre- and postoperative tumour volumes, and the involvement of more than one lobe were strongly associated with worse outcome. Preoperative tumour volume was the strongest predictor of OS (p<0.01) and the only predictor of MT (p<0.05). The absolute and relative volumes of tumour removed by surgery were not significantly associated with outcome. CONCLUSIONS. Initial tumour volume, measured as the volume of T2-hyperintensity on MRI, and tumour extension are the strongest predictors of outcome in patients with supratentorial diffuse astrocytic WHO Grade II tumours. The potential benefit of aggressive tumour resection needs to be investigated in a prospective controlled trial.