Characterization and outcomes of infratentorial malignant glioma: A population-based study using the Surveillance Epidemiology and End-Results database

PurposeUsing a population-based database, we sought to characterize brainstem gliomas and to evaluate the prognosis of various subgroups.Materials and methodsUsing the Surveillance Epidemiology and End-Results (SEER) database we identified patients diagnosed with malignant infratentorial gliomas between 1988 and 2003 who underwent a surgical procedure and/or received radiation therapy (RT).ResultsA total of 455 patients were identified with a median age at diagnosis of 13 years (range 0–87). The overwhelming majority, 95.6%, received RT. Median survival (MS) was 11 months. Those not undergoing RT had a MS of 3 months. MS varied significantly by age, p < 0.001. MS for patients aged 0–18 years was 11 months; 19–29 years was 35 months; 30–49 years was 17 months; 50–69 years was 6 months; and 70 years or older was 3 months. The small group with grades I and II tumors had improved MS of 58 and 37 months, respectively. There was no difference in survival by the year of diagnosis (⩽1999 versus 2000 or later) with MS of 10 versus 11 months, respectively, p = 0.949.ConclusionBrainstem glioma is primarily a childhood malignancy with a generally poor prognosis. A minority of patients has favorable features and can achieve long-term survival.