Improved survival of patients with glioma in the CT era

At the RoyaL Brisbane Hospital, 143 patients with intracranial gliomas were analyzed in a retrospective study, to evaluate the impact of the CT scanner upon their diagnosis, management and survival. 95 were diagnosed before and 48 after CT became available. There was a significant reduction in the number of invasive diagnostic procedures performed in the CT era; cerebral angiograms by 67%, pneumoencephalograms by 82% and exploratory craniotomies by 65%. However, the total number of diagnostic investigations and the time taken to establish a diagnosis of glioma were not significantly decreased. Surgery was performed less frequently and with a lower complication and mortality rate than in the pre-CT era; there was a slightly increased use of chemotherapy. The number of patients having arteriography as a follow-up procedure was reduced by 80% and no follow-up pneumoencephalograms have been performed since CT was introduced. The average duration of hospitalization has remained unchanged. Survival times has increased significantly during this time, most markedly in the younger groups. The possible role of CT in this improvement is discussed.