Hydrocephalus after resection and adjuvant radiochemotherapy in patients with glioblastoma

ObjectiveGlioblastomas are the most common primary malignant brain tumors in adults with a poor prognosis. The current study sought to identify risk factors in glioblastoma patients that are closely associated with communicating hydrocephalus.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed data from 151 patients who were diagnosed with a glioblastoma between 2007 and 2011 and underwent complete surgical resection closely followed by adjuvant radiochemotherapy.ResultsWe observed a significant tendency toward communicating hydrocephalus in cases of ventricular opening during surgical tumor resection (Fisher's exact test p < 0.001) and a noticeable, although not statistically significant, correlation between the onset of communicating hydrocephalus and evidence of leptomeningeal tumor dissemination (Fisher's exact test p = 0.067). Additionally, there was a trend toward frontal tumor location and a larger tumor volume in patients with communicating hydrocephalus. The majority of patients suffering from communicating hydrocephalus received a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt implantation after radiation therapy (63.6%, Fisher's exact test p = 0.000).ConclusionWe identified the following risk factors associated with the onset of communicating hydrocephalus in glioblastoma patients: ventricular opening during tumor resection and leptomeningeal tumor dissemination. Shunt implantation seems to be safe and effective in these patients.