Mononuclear infiltrates in human intracranial tumors as a prognostic factor. Influence of preoperative steroid treatment. I. Glioblastoma.

One hundred ninety-nine glioblastomas were investigated for the presence of mononuclear infiltrates in the light of preoperative steroid treatment and in regard to their prognostic influence. Preoperative steroid treatment does not seem to severely influence the frequency of lymphocytic infiltration in the doses routinely administered by us. The presence of infiltrates corresponds with a better prognosis for the disease, and with a mean postoperative survival time of 8.1 months as compared to 5.6 months in the group without infiltrates, irrespective of adjuvant treatment. As a prognostic factor, infiltrates may be of relevance for a statistical evaluation, but not a reliable indicator in the individual case.