The capability to successfully study and to be graduated in students who underwent awake surgical resection for a low-grade glioma

Although low-grade glioma (LGG) patients are young with a long-life expectancy, their capacity to study received less attention. Here, the ability to complete studies and to pass examination in students following awake surgery (AS) was investigated.

Students who underwent AS with mapping-based resection for LGG were consecutively selected, with analysis of their capability to continue studies and to obtain diploma.

Twenty-one patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria (5 men/16 women, mean age 22.9 ± 5.71 years), 4 high-school students and 17 university students - including 6 medical students, 4 masters (social work, management, human resource, civic service), 1 insurance BTS, business, engineering, secretarial, physiotherapy, police and accounting studies. The preoperative median KPS score was 95.2 ± 8.1. The mean tumor volume [TV] was 47.6 ± 49.6 cm³. No permanent deficits were generated (postoperative median KPS score 96.6 ± 5.7). The 21 patients continued their studies after surgery, with all patients except one (95%) who successfully passed their examination and were graduated. The mean EOR was 93.5 ± 10.8% (mean residual TV 5.8 ± 11.7 cm³). Pathology revealed 18 astrocytomas and 3 oligodendrogliomas. No early adjuvant therapy was administrated. Twelve patients (57.1%) underwent subsequent AS. The mean follow-up duration was 8.6 ± 4.4 years, with 16 patients (76.1%) still alive. In high-school students, the preoperative TV (p = 0.01) and postoperative TV (p = 0.03) were lower, with a higher EOR (p = 0.01).

This is the first series showing that AS preserves the ability to acquire new competences in students with LGG, who were able to complete their studies and to be graduated in 95% of cases.