The incidence and significance of thromboembolic complications in patients with high-grade gliomas

Article Abstract:

Cancer patients often suffer from some abnormality or disorder of the blood coagulation system. In some cases, the abnormality may be an unusual laboratory finding that is unrelated to any clinical symptoms, while other cases may show disseminated intravascular coagulation, in which blood clots in many of the body's blood vessels. Coagulation disorders are thought by some to be the second most common cause of death among cancer patients. A study was conducted to assess the occurrence of thromboembolism in patients with high-grade gliomas. High-grade gliomas are tumors arising from glial cells in the brain or spinal cord that have a highly malignant appearance under the microscope. The two specific types of high-grade glioma are anaplastic astrocytoma and glioblastoma multiforme. These gliomas lead to an increased risk of thromboembolus formation, or the formation of a blood clot that wedges in and blocks a blood vessel. In a review of 77 patients with high-grade glioma, 15 developed thromboembolic complications during the course of their disease. Ten patients developed deep vein thrombosis, and nine patients developed pulmonary emboli. (Four patients had both conditions.) No significant differences were found in the conventional risk factors between the glioma patients with thromboembolic complications and those without, although a somewhat higher fraction of the patients with complications were obese. Curiously, seizures were significantly more likely to be a presenting symptom among the patients who developed thromboembolic complications than those who did not, affecting 53 and 18 percent, respectively. Pulmonary embolism was the cause of death in one patient, and a significant contributor to death in another. Eight of the patients were given anticoagulation treatment which resulted in complications in two patients. At present, the best method for screening glioma patients for thromboembolic complications and the best method for treating coagulation problems remain unknown. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Complications and side effects, Risk factors, Thromboembolism, Gliomas

---

Interstitial radiogold implantation for the treatment of recurrent high-grade gliomas

Article Abstract:

High-grade gliomas are both the most serious and most common brain tumors in adults. While, traditionally, high-grade gliomas have been referred to as glioblastoma multiforme, the tumors are now generally divided into two classes: grade 3 or anaplastic astrocytoma, and grade 4 or glioblastoma multiforme. The distinction is not trivial, since 20 to 25 percent of anaplastic astrocytomas may be cured by radiation, while cure is not achieved in cases of glioblastoma multiforme. In an effort to improve the prognosis for patients with high-grade astrocytomas, the implantation of radioactive gold pellets was evaluated in 33 patients with glioblastoma multiforme. All the patients had experienced recurrence of tumor after initial external beam radiation. The additional tumor growth was surgically removed insofar as possible. A radioactive pellet made of gold-198 was then implanted into the tumor bed. The mean dose to the tumor volume delivered by this pellet was 4,000 cGy (a Gy, or Gary, is 1 joule of energy absorbed per kilogram of tissue). In 13 patients with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme, 1-, 2- and 3-year survival rates were 46, 15, and 8 percent, respectively. For the remaining 20 patients who had recurrent anaplastic astrocytoma, the 1-, 2- and 3-year survival was 75, 50, and 15 percent. No patient required reoperation for radiation necrosis. The authors feel that the method is effective and have now incorporated interstitial radiation in the initial management of selected high-grade gliomas. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Care and treatment, Prognosis

---

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Clinical significance of hematologic parameters in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma at diagnosis. Complications from long-term indwelling central venous catheters in hematologic patients with special reference to infection
• Abstracts: Types of atrophic gastritis in patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome. Auricular chondritis and diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis in primary Sjogren's syndrome
• Abstracts: Cheiroarthropathy and long term diabetic complications in Nigerians
• Abstracts: Renal and humoral effects of ibopamine, a dopamine agonist, in patients with liver cirrhosis. Gynecomastia and cirrhosis of the liver
• Abstracts: Prediction of glucose response to weight loss in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Impact of glucose self-monitoring on glycohemoglobin values in a veteran population

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.