Surgery for high-grade gliomas in the aging

Objective High‐grade glioma (HGG) is the commonest primary brain tumor in adults. We prospectively assessed outcome following surgery and adjuvant treatment for HGG in older patients. Materials and methods Patients ≥ 60 years undergoing craniotomies for gliomas WHO grade 3 and 4 at Oslo and Haukeland University Hospitals 2008–2009 were included (n = 80). Outcome was assessed at six months, and overall mortality evaluated at two years. Results Forty‐two males and 38 females of median age 68.5 (60–83) years were included, 35% attended a follow‐up appointment at six months. Surgical mortality was 1.3%. Surgical morbidity included neurological sequela (10%), post‐operative hematomas (3.8%) and hydrocephalus (1.3%). Median overall survival was 8.4 months and significantly increased by adjuvant radiochemotherapy. In univariate survival analyses, age ≥ 80 years, subtotal resection, American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) scores 3–4, Karnofsky performance scale (KPS)