Three-year Survival Rate in All Kinds of Glioma Tumors in one Institution, Iran, 2001-2010

Background and Aim: The survival rate of brain tumors has not yet been reported in Iran. The purpose of this study, given the lack of such information, was to evaluate the 3-year survival rate in patients with all kinds of glioma tumors. Methods and Materials/Patients: This study was descriptive and retrospective, including 222 patients who had been diagnosed clinically with one type of glioma tumor and admitted to Al-Zahra hospital, Isfahan, Iran during 2001-2010. All patients (for minors, their parents) were contacted by phone. They were asked about the 3-year survival rate following their tumor resection surgery. Data such as patient’s age on admission, gender, histological diagnosis of tumor, and treatment regimen (surgical/non-surgical, radiation, and/or chemotherapy) were collected from medical records. The 3-year survival rate and frequency of each tumor based on age and gender were measured. Results: The 3-year survival rates for Glioblastoma Multiform (GBM) and anaplastic astrocytoma were 8.7% and 0%, respectively following surgery and chemo-radiation. These tumors were categorized as high-grade glioma with poor prognosis. The 3-year survival rate for diffuse astrocytoma, low-grade oligodendroglioma, low-grade ependymoma, and pilocytic astrocytoma following surgery and radiation were 100%, 95.2%, 100%, and 100%, respectively. These tumors were categorized as low-grade glioma, which has a good prognosis. Conclusion: In this study, the 3-year survival rate in patients with low-grade glioma following surgery and radiation was almost 100%. In contrast, the 3-year survival rate in patients with highgrade glioma following surgery and chemo-radiation was almost 0%.