A retrospective audit of 200 cases of CNS tumours and their surgical management in a tertiary care centre.

AIMS

To study the nature of the tumours managed in the Irish population.

METHODS

This audit research was completed via a retrospective medical review on 200 patients with CNS tumours managed in a tertiary care centre between 2008 and 2009.

RESULTS

The mean age was 53 years. The male:female ratio was 2:1. The majority were glioblastomas and astrocytomas. Grade IV tumours were predominant (65.5 %). Headaches (37 %), motor weakness (32 %) and seizures (25.5 %) were the highest presentations. The commonest sites affected were the left parietal and left temporal lobes. There were 17.5 % operative morbidities with motor weakness (22.9 %), seizure (14.3 %) and thrombo-embolism (14.3 %) dominating and significant association to surgical radicality (p = 0.041). 3.5 % operative mortalities were reported. 52.5 and 62.5 % of patients received adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with CNS tumours typically had multiple presentations. More extensive surgical resection was associated with higher postoperative morbidities (p = 0.041). The 30-day postoperative morbidity (17.5 %) and mortality (3.5 %) were concordant with the currently available literature.