TY - JOUR
T1 - Variations in attitudes towards stereotactic biopsy of adult diffuse midline glioma patients
T2 - a survey of members of the AANS/CNS Tumor Section
AU - Lynes, John
AU - Acquaye, Alvina A
AU - Sur, Hannah
AU - Nwankwo, Anthony
AU - Sanchez, Victoria
AU - Vera, Elizabeth
AU - Wu, Tianxia
AU - Theeler, Brett
AU - Armstrong, Terri S
AU - Gilbert, Mark R
AU - Nduom, Edjah K
PY - 2020/8
Y1 - 2020/8
N2 - PURPOSE: Diffuse midline gliomas are rare midline CNS malignancies that primarily affect children but can also affect adults. While radiation is standard treatment, prognosis remains fatal. Furthermore, due to its sensitive anatomic location, many physicians have been reluctant to perform biopsies without potential for improved prognosis. However, recent advancements in molecular-targeted therapeutics have encouraged greater tissue sampling. While the literature reflects this progress, the landscape of how clinicians actually manage these patients remains unclear. Our goal was to assess the attitudes of current practicing neurosurgical oncologists towards management of adult diffuse midline gliomas, reasons behind their practices, and factors that might influence these practices.METHODS: We created and distributed a survey with 16 multiple choice and open-ended questions to members of the Tumor Section of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.RESULTS: A total of 81 physicians responded to the survey. Although time since training and volume of glioma patients did not significantly affect the decision to consider clinical trials or to offer biopsy, those that operated on fewer gliomas (< 25/year) were more likely to cite surgical morbidity as the primary reason not to biopsy these midline locations. Further, surgeons with access to more advanced molecular testing were significantly more likely to consider clinical trial eligibility when offering biopsies.CONCLUSION: Factors that affect the management of diffuse midline gliomas and the role of biopsy are relatively uniform across the field, however, there were a few notable differences that reflect the changes within the neuro-oncology field in response to clinical trials.
AB - PURPOSE: Diffuse midline gliomas are rare midline CNS malignancies that primarily affect children but can also affect adults. While radiation is standard treatment, prognosis remains fatal. Furthermore, due to its sensitive anatomic location, many physicians have been reluctant to perform biopsies without potential for improved prognosis. However, recent advancements in molecular-targeted therapeutics have encouraged greater tissue sampling. While the literature reflects this progress, the landscape of how clinicians actually manage these patients remains unclear. Our goal was to assess the attitudes of current practicing neurosurgical oncologists towards management of adult diffuse midline gliomas, reasons behind their practices, and factors that might influence these practices.METHODS: We created and distributed a survey with 16 multiple choice and open-ended questions to members of the Tumor Section of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.RESULTS: A total of 81 physicians responded to the survey. Although time since training and volume of glioma patients did not significantly affect the decision to consider clinical trials or to offer biopsy, those that operated on fewer gliomas (< 25/year) were more likely to cite surgical morbidity as the primary reason not to biopsy these midline locations. Further, surgeons with access to more advanced molecular testing were significantly more likely to consider clinical trial eligibility when offering biopsies.CONCLUSION: Factors that affect the management of diffuse midline gliomas and the role of biopsy are relatively uniform across the field, however, there were a few notable differences that reflect the changes within the neuro-oncology field in response to clinical trials.
KW - Adult
KW - Attitude of Health Personnel
KW - Biopsy
KW - Brain Neoplasms/pathology
KW - Glioma/pathology
KW - Humans
KW - Neurosurgeons/psychology
KW - Neurosurgical Procedures/psychology
KW - Stereotaxic Techniques/psychology
KW - Surveys and Questionnaires
U2 - 10.1007/s11060-020-03585-7
DO - 10.1007/s11060-020-03585-7
M3 - Article
C2 - 32705457
SN - 0167-594X
VL - 149
SP - 161
EP - 170
JO - Journal of Neuro-Oncology
JF - Journal of Neuro-Oncology
IS - 1
ER -