Survival of patients with primary CNS tumours in Estonia

We studied a population-based survey that included 1417 patients with a pri mary central nervous system (CNS) tumour diagnosed in Estonia between 1986 and 1996. Survival rates at I and 5 years and median survival by histology and patient's age at diagnosis were estimated. Median survival time for all tumours was 33.2 months and 1- and 5-year survival rates were 59.3 and 46. 0%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, younger age, better clinical co ndition (i.e. a Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) score of 60 and more) an d tumour histology were all dependent prognostic factors for better surviva l. Risk of death was more than 8 times greater for glioblastoma (Risk Ratio (RR) 8.31) and approximately seven times greater for anaplastic astrocytom a (RR 7.22) and other gliomas (RR 5.74) compared with meningiomas. Comparin g the first (1986-1989) and the third (1994-1996) time periods, statistical ly significant improvements in survival occurred for all tumours and astroc ytomas. Declines in survival during the second period (1990-1993) were stat istically significant for all the tumour groups, but the most striking decr ease took place in patients with glioblastoma. Age-specific rates showed th at the increase in survival was more evident for patients aged between 45 a nd 64 years. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.