Imaging in patients with glioblastoma: A national cohort study

Glioblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor in adults and has a poor prognosis. This cohort of patients is diverse and imaging is vital to formulate treatment plans. Despite this, there is relatively little data on patterns of use of imaging and imaging workload in routine practice.

We examined imaging patterns for all patients aged 15-99 years resident in England who were diagnosed with a glioblastoma between 1st January 2013 and 31st December 2014. Patients without imaging and death-certificate-only registrations were excluded.

The analytical cohort contained 4,307 patients. There was no significant variation in pre- or postdiagnostic imaging practice by sex or deprivation quintile. Postdiagnostic imaging practice was varied. In the group of patients who were treated most aggressively (surgical debulking and chemoradiation) and were MRI compatible, only 51% had a postoperative MRI within 72 hours of surgery. In patients undergoing surgery who subsequently received radiotherapy, only 61% had a postsurgery and preradiotherapy MRI.

Prediagnostic imaging practice is uniform. Postdiagnostic imaging practice was variable. With increasing evidence and clearer recommendations regarding debulking surgery and planning radiotherapy imaging, the reason for this is unclear and will form the basis of further work.