Therapeutic strategies for local recurrent malignant glioma

Patients with local recurrent malignant gliomas present diagnostic and therapeutic challenges for the neuro-oncology practitioner. Management must be individualized depending on the patient's age, performance status, histology, response to initial therapy, type of recurrence (local vs diffuse), and time since original diagnosis. Treatment options may be classified into surgery, additional radiation therapy, or chemotherapy. Results of treatment are often difficult to determine because of limitations of conventional imaging. Symptom palliation is an important goal that often requires additional adjuvant medical therapy. Quality of life issues are also of paramount importance in patients with recurrent malignant glioma and frequently will guide management strategy. Finally, patients with recurrent malignant gliomas should be encouraged to consider participation in a clinical trial in the hopes that better treatment alternatives will be available for this group of patients within the next few years.