Octogenarian Brain Tumor Registry: Single-Institution Surgical Outcomes and Mortality Study

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Geriatric Medicine
• Oncology

Background:

• Surgical intervention for brain tumors in octogenarians (80-89 years) is controversial due to perceived increased risks associated with aging.
• Outcomes and mortality risks for this specific age group are not well-characterized.
• This review assesses surgical outcomes and mortality in octogenarians undergoing tumor removal.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of craniotomy for tumor resection (CTR) in patients aged 80 to 89 years.
• To determine the 30-day mortality rate following brain tumor surgery in octogenarians.
• To characterize postoperative complications and survival rates in this elderly population.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of patients aged 80-89 who underwent CTR between 2004-2021.
• Inclusion criteria: meningioma, glioblastoma, or metastatic brain disease.
• Primary outcome: 30-day mortality; secondary outcomes: complications, neurologic deficits, modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores, and survival.

Main Results:

• Sixty-one CTRs were analyzed; median age was 83 years.
• Postoperative complications occurred in 27.9% of patients, and 26.2% experienced new neurologic deficits.
• The 30-day mortality rate was 8.2% (5 deaths), with a 3-month mortality of 23.0%. Mean survival varied by tumor type (Meningioma: 33 months, Glioblastoma: 6.9 months, Metastatic: 15 months).

Conclusions:

• Brain tumor surgery in octogenarians demonstrates an 8.2% 30-day mortality rate, comparable to previously reported survival rates across all age groups.
• Surgical intervention is feasible, safe, and potentially worthwhile for improving and extending the lives of octogenarian brain tumor patients.
• The findings support considering surgical options for carefully selected elderly patients with brain tumors.