Resection of gliomas in the cingulate gyrus: functional outcome and survival

Functional outcome after resection of tumors arising from the gyrus cinguli (GC), part of the limbic system, is not well analyzed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and functional outcome of surgical treatment for a series of 65 patients with gliomas involving the GC. Preoperative data, extent of resection, functional outcome (Karnofsky performance index, KPI, and the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale, NIHSS), and survival of 65 patients with gliomas arising from the GC were analyzed on the basis of a prospectively conducted database of gliomas between 06/1999 and 07/2010. Extent of resection (complete, subtotal, or partial) was based on early postoperative MRI. Eighty-six percent of the gliomas were located in the anterior part of the GC and 14 % in the posterior part. Fifty-five percent of the patients presented with seizures and 17 % with hemiparesis (mean preoperative KPI = 86 ± 17, NIHSS = 1.4 ± 1.7). Histologically, the tumors were WHO Grade II in 25 %, Grade III in 26 %, and Grade IV in 49 %. Complete resection was achieved for 59 %, subtotal resection for 32%, and partial resection for 9 %. Postoperative transient deficits included SMA lesion (14 %) and new or worsened hemiparesis (8 %), which resolved within 30 days (NIHSS early postoperatively 1.7 ± 1.4, late postoperatively 0.8 ± 1.4, and after 6 months 0.6 ± 1.4). According to histopathological grading, median survival was 67 months (WHO°II), 87 months (WHO°III), and 16.5 months (WHO°IV), and overall survival was 34 months. Microsurgical resection of gliomas arising from the GC is feasible; gross total resection can be achieved for 90 % of gliomas arising from the GC with 5 % long-term morbidity.