Table 1.
Clinical characteristics and treatment modalities in 360 patients diagnosed with butterfly glioblastoma (n = 33) or non-butterfly glioblastoma (n = 327) in Western Norway between 01/01/2007 and 31/12/2014
| Butterfly glioblastoma (n = 33) |
Non-butterfly glioblastoma (n = 327) |
P valuea | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patient characteristics | |||
| Female | 20 (60.6%) | 131 (40.1%) | .023 |
| Age ≥ 70 years | 13 (39.4%) | 114 (34.9%) | .60 |
| Age, median (range) | 66.6 (27.9–84.8) | 64.6 (18.1–94.9) | .66 |
| Karnofsky performance status < 70b | 8 (24.2%) | N/A | – |
| Charlson Comorbidity Score ≥ 7 | 5 (15.2%) | 36 (11.1%) | .56 |
| Symptom(s) at time of diagnosis | |||
| Cognitive impairment | 23 (69.7%) | 148 (45.3%) | .007 |
| Headache | 11 (33.3%) | 146 (44.6%) | .21 |
| Epilepsy | 6 (18.2%) | 102 (31.2%) | .12 |
| Paresis | 8 (24.2%) | 112 (34.3%) | .25 |
| Dizziness | 7 (21.2%) | 55 (16.8%) | .52 |
| Central facial palsy | 4 (12.1%) | 92 (28.1%) | .047 |
| Dysphasia | 3 (9.1%) | 82 (25.1%) | .039 |
| Hemianopia | 2 (6.1%) | 52 (15.9%) | .20 |
| MRI characteristics | |||
| Main tumor locationc | < .001 | ||
| Frontal | 9 (27.3%) | 72 (22.1%) | |
| Temporal | 8 (24.2%) | 82 (25.2%) | |
| Occipital | 8 (24.2%) | 8 (2.5%) | |
| Deep-seated | 6 (18.2 %) | 31 (9.5%) | |
| Parietal | 2 (6.1 %) | 28 (8.6%) | |
| Overlapping | 0 (0.0%) | 105 (32.2%) | |
| Primary treatment | |||
| Number of treatment modalitiesd | < .001 | ||
| None (best supportive care) | 6 (18.2%) | 24 (7.3%) | |
| 1 modality | 8 (24.2%) | 51 (15.6%) | |
| 2 modalities | 16 (45.5%) | 75 (22.9%) | |
| 3 modalities | 4 (12.1%) | 177 (54.1%) | |
| Resection | 4 (12.1%) | 215 (65.7%) | < .001 |
| Radiation therapy | 27 (81.8%) | 292 (89.3%) | .16 |
| Radiation therapy schedulee | .014 | ||
| Hypofractionated | 16 (59.3%) | 103 (35.3%) | |
| Standard fractionatedf | 11 (40.7%) | 189 (64.7%) | |
| Temozolomide concurrent and/or adjuvant | 19 (57.6%) | 225.(68.8%) | .20 |
Age presented absolute number (%) aged over 70 years and median (range), all other characteristics presented as absolute number (%).
MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; FLAIR, fluid attenuated inversion recovery.
aComparison between groups was performed by Chi-square Test (Fisher’s exact Test when expected cell count < 5) for categorical data and Mann–Whitney U Test for the continuous age variable. P values < .05 were considered statistically significant.
bNot available for the non-butterfly glioblastoma cohort.
cFor butterfly glioblastoma based on volumetric analyses, for non-butterfly glioblastoma based on MRI reports.
dSurgical resection, radiation therapy and chemotherapy (temozolomide).
eAmong patients who received radiation therapy.
f60 Gy in 2 Gy fractions.