[Biochemical monitoring of postoperative glioma (author's transl)]

Extention of the survival period and suppression of the recurrence of neurological symptoms during postoperative progression free intervals have become the most important problems in the treatment of gliomas. In the outpatient clinic, neurological and neuroradiological monitoring, including sequential CT scans, are especially valuable. In addition to each conventional monitoring methods, immunological and biochemical monitoring methods have been introduced as precise and noninvasive methods. In this paper, wer have discussed about the biochemical monitoring. In biochemical monitoring cystic fluid was repeatedly obtained through Ommaya's reservoir and chemically analysed during the postoperative period of eight cases of glioblastoma showed complete remission either clinically or chemically during the monitoring period. Chemical progression, especially a gradual increase in LDH, was detected in three cases of anaplastic astrocytoma prior to the clinical and radiological deterioration. In the remaining two cases of glioblastoma, neither clinical nor chemical regression was obtained in spite of postoperative adjuvant treatments. In biochemical monitoring of gliomas, total cholesterol, LDH and LDH isozyme values of cystic fluid were especially valuable.