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J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg 2012; 73(02): 073-078
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1297247
Original Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Did Survival Improve after the Implementation of Intraoperative Neuronavigation and 3D Ultrasound in Glioblastoma Surgery? A Retrospective Analysis of 192 Primary Operations

C. A. Sæther
1   Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
,
M. Torsteinsen
1   Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
,
S. H. Torp
2   Department of Pathology and Medical Genetics, St. Olav's University ­Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
3   Department of Laboratory Medicine, Children's and Women's Health, ­Norwegian University of Science and ­Technology, Trondheim, Norway
,
S. Sundstrøm
4   Department of Oncology, St. Olav's University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
,
G. Unsgård
5   Department of Neurosurgery, St. Olav's University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
6   Department of Neuroscience, Norwegian University of Science and ­Technology, Trondheim, Norway
7   National Centre for 3D Ultrasound in Surgery, Stoles University ­Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
,
O. Solheim
5   Department of Neurosurgery, St. Olav's University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
6   Department of Neuroscience, Norwegian University of Science and ­Technology, Trondheim, Norway
7   National Centre for 3D Ultrasound in Surgery, Stoles University ­Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History

Publication Date:
30 March 2012 (online)

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Abstract

Background Numerous observational studies indicate that more aggressive resection may prolong survival in glioblastoma patients. In Trondheim, Norway, intraoperative 3D ultrasound has been in increasing use since November 1997. The aim of the present study was to examine if the introduction of 3D ultrasound and neuronavigation (i. e., the SonoWand® system) may have had an impact on overall survival.

Patients/Material and Methods Patient data were obtained retrospectively for the 192 glio­blastoma patients who received surgery and postoperative radiotherapy between 1990 and 2005. Overall survival, before and after 1997, was compared using the log rank test. Possible confounders were adjusted for in a multivariate Cox regression analysis.

Results We observed an increase in survival for patients in the last study period (9.6 vs. 11.9 months; HR = 0.7; p = 0.034). The significant improvement in the latest time period was sustained after adjusting for age, WHO performance status (≥2) and type of radiotherapy (normofractioned or hypofractioned), and chemotherapy (yes/no), p = 0.034. 10 out of 14 patients who survived more than 3 years received treatment after the implementation of 3D ultrasound.

Conclusion Our study demonstrates that survival has improved within the same period that intraoperative ultrasound and neuronavigation was introduced and established in our department. The demonstrated association is a necessity for causation, but given the nature of this study, one must be cautious to claim causality. The improvement was, however, significant after adjustment for known major prognostic factors.

Keywords

glioblastoma - neuronavigation - ultrasound
 

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