Psychological consideration in patients with cerebral gliomas candidates for intra-operative radiation therapy based on tumor location.

OBJECTIVE

Intra-operative Radiation Therapy (IORT) is gaining popularity as an adjuvant option to surgical resection, in treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) for increasing survival rate, which a highly aggressive cerebral tumor with poor prognosis. Τhe authors plan to investigate the effects of IORT combined with surgical resection on the psychological status of these patients based on tumor location.

SUBJECT AND METHODS

From December 2013 to February 2017, we have enrolled 109 patients with high grade cerebral gliomas, documented by Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS). Patients with previous history of brain surgery or radiation, altered mental status and psychological content and patients diagnosed with metastases were excluded. Demographic data, tumor volume based on pre-operative Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and psychological status were recorded based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) criteria. The remaining 56 patients, were equally randomized into conventional (surgical resection-group A), and trial (surgical resection with IORT-group B) who underwent IORT using the 50kV INTRABEAM® system (Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, Germany). Psychological profiles of both groups were re-evaluated in the 3 post-operative month.

RESULTS

Group A consisted of 18 males and 10 females with mean age of 54.4 years, while group B consisted of 16 males and 12 females with mean age of 57.8 years. Tumor volumetry revealed mean 81.52cc and 82.8cc for group A and B respectively. (P value 0.14) Patients were classified based on glioma location on pre-operative MRI: a) left parietal lobe (6 in group A, 5 in group B); b) left temporal lobe (7 in group A, 5 in group B); c) right parietal lobe (5 in group A, 6 in group B); d) left fronto-temporal lobe (4 in group A, 6 in group B); e) left parieto-temporal lobe (4 in group A, 5 in group B); and, f) right frontal lobe (2 in group A, 1 in group B). Group B received mean 8.05 Gy radiation for mean 11.2 minutes. Post-operative psychological in the 3 month evaluation revealed the following in each class: a) Group A: 1 mild depression, Group B: 1 mild depression and 2 major depression; b) Group A: no disorder, Group B: 1 mild depression; c) no disorders in both groups; d) Group A: no disorder, Group B: 1 mild depression, 1 major depression and 1 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD); Conclusion: Utilization of IORT is shown to improve survival rate of patients suffering from GBM. However, the psychological status is a major determinating factor for the quality of life of these patients. Our study showed that IORT increased psychological disorders in patients with gliomas located in left parietal, left fronto-temporal and left parieto-temporal lobes and should be considered in pre-operative strategy selection.