ObjectivesThe median survival in glioblastoma (GBM) patients used to be less than 1year. Surgical removal of the tumor with subsequent concomitant radiation/temozolomide (the Stupp regimen) has been shown to prolong survival. The Stupp protocol was implemented in the county of Jonkoping in 2006. The purpose of this study was to examine if the Stupp treatment has prolonged overall survival, in an unselected patient cohort with histologically verified GBM. Material and MethodThis study includes all patients from the county of Jonkoping, with a diagnosis of GBM from January 2001 to December 2012. Patients were divided into 2 cohorts, 2001-2005 and 2006-2012, that is before and after implementation of the Stupp regimen. By reviewing the medical case notes, the dates of the histological diagnosis and of death were identified. The median and mean overall survival and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis were calculated and compared between the 2 cohorts. ResultsThe mean survival was 110days longer in the cohort treated according to the Stupp regimen. Four patients in the 2006-2012 cohort and 1 patient in the 2001-2005 cohort are still alive. When comparing survival in patients with radical surgery vs biopsy, those that underwent radical surgery survived longer. The significance was slightly greater in the 2001-2005 cohort (mean 163 vs 344days, Pamp;lt;.001) than in the 2006-2012 cohort (mean 220 vs 397days, P=.02). ConclusionSurvival significantly improved after the implementation of the Stupp regimen in the study region of Sweden.

Objectives Seizures as presenting symptom of glioblastoma (GBM) are known to predict prolonged survival, whereas the clinical impact of other initial symptoms is less known. Our main objective was to evaluate the influence of different presenting symptoms on survival in a clinical setting. We also assessed lead times, tumour size and localization. Methods Medical records of 189 GBM patients were reviewed regarding the first medical appointment, presenting symptom/s, date of diagnostic radiology and survival. Tumour size, localization and treatment data were retrieved. Overall survival was calculated using Kaplan-Meier and Mann-Whitney U test. Cox regression was used for risk estimation. Results Cognitive impairment as the initial symptom was often misinterpreted in primary health care leading to a delayed diagnosis. Initial global symptoms (66% of all patients) were associated with reduced survival compared to no global symptoms (median 8.4 months vs. 12.6 months). Those with the most common cognitive dysfunctions: change of behaviour, memory impairment and/or disorientation had a reduced median survival to 6.4 months. In contrast, seizures (32%) were associated with longer survival (median 11.2 months vs. 8.3 months). Global symptoms were associated with larger tumours than seizures, but tumour size had no linear association with survival. The setting of the first medical appointment was evenly distributed between primary health care and emergency units. Conclusion Patients with GBM presenting with cognitive symptoms are challenging to identify, have larger tumours and reduced survival. In contrast, epileptic seizures as the first symptom are associated with longer survival and smaller tumours.

Background Glioblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor in adults. Non-invasive clinical parameters could play a crucial role in treatment planning and serve as predictors of patient survival. Our register-based real-life study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of presenting symptoms. Methods Data on presenting symptoms and survival, as well as known prognostic factors, were retrieved for all glioblastoma patients in Sweden registered in the Swedish Brain Tumor Registry between 2018 and 2021. The prognostic impact of different presenting symptoms was calculated using the Cox proportional hazard model. Results Data from 1458 adults with pathologically verified IDH wild-type glioblastoma were analyzed. Median survival time was 345 days. The 2-year survival rate was 21.5%. Registered presenting symptoms were focal neurological deficits, cognitive dysfunction, headache, epilepsy, signs of raised intracranial pressure, and cranial nerve symptoms, with some patients having multiple symptoms. Patients with initial cognitive dysfunction had significantly shorter survival than patients without; 265 days (245-285) vs. 409 days (365-453; P < .001). The reduced survival remained after Cox regression adjusting for known prognostic factors. Patients presenting with seizures and patients with headaches had significantly longer overall survival compared to patients without these symptoms, but the difference was not retained in multivariate analysis. Patients with cognitive deficits were less likely to have radical surgery and to receive extensive anti-neoplastic nonsurgical treatment. Conclusions This extensive real-life study reveals that initial cognitive impairment acts as an independent negative predictive factor for treatment decisions and adversely affects survival outcomes in glioblastoma patients.