Retrospective Study of the Corticosteroids Administration in GBM Patients as a Prognostic Factor in the Disease

Abstract

ccording to Globocan web site incidence of CNS tumors in Egypt was estimated by 6.6/100 000. In a study performed in Ain-Shams University hospitals a total number of registered newly diagnosed patients received during the study period were 943 cases. CNS tumors accounted for 53 newly diagnosed cases (5.6%). Glioblastoma Multiforme was the most common pathology occurring in about 43.3% of the presented cases. Management of GBM cases consists of maximal surgical resection if feasible followed by concurrent chemo-radiotherapy treatment then adjuvant chemotherapy, which is the standard of care in management of the newly diagnosed cases of glioblastoma. A considerable part from the care of patients with malignant gliomas involves general medical management. Since the 50th of the last century dexamethasone has remained the most administered drug for brain cancer patients to control the peritumoral edema, owing to its favorable criteria such as; its low index of sodium and water retention compared with other corticosteroids available at that time. It has been suggested that corticosteroids produce their anti-edema effect by reducing the permeability of tumor capillaries. Corticosteroids are commonly used peri-operatively to control cerebral edema and are frequently continued throughout