ANALYSIS OF VARIABLES AFFECTING SURVIVAL OF PATIENTS WITH ASTRACYTOMAS

Objective: To evaluate the factors that affect the survival of patients with astrocytomas. Methods: We reviewed the clinical and radiological features of 104 patients operated during 1995(2000. The features were evaluated with univariate and multivariate analysis. Results: Univariate statistical analysis revealed that tumor localization, enhancement, edema, tumor invasion, seizure as the first symptom recurrence, edema, tumor invasion, seizure as the first symptom and recurrence of astrocytomas significantly affected the survival, In multivariate analysis four factors showed significant danger to long survival: necrosis, pathological grade, Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) score before operation, extent of resection. The rest factors appeared to be of no benefit to survival. Conclusion: The important factors that affect the long survival of patients with astrocytomas are necrosis, pathological grade, KPS score before operation and extent of resection.