Reoperation in recurrent high-grade gliomas - Literature review of prognostic factors and outcome

Two percent of cancer deaths are caused by malignant primary brain tumors, and most of these are high-grade gliomas. De spite the treatment given, mal ignant gliomas recur early. Mean survival is less than 12 months, and only 20% of patients survive for more than 2 years. This rapid course induces so me physicians to resort to all the therapeutic options available and, at re currence, to reevaluate the patient for a second intervention. Others consi der reoperation to be an overtreatment. The debate is ongoing, and an answe r likely will be found only through better identification of the prognostic factors that will identify patients who will benefit from reoperation.