Malignant gliomas in adults.

Copyright © 2008 Massachusetts Medical Society. Malignant gliomas account for approximately 70% of the 22,500 new cases of malignant primary brain tumors that are diagnosed in adults in the United States each year.1-3 Although relatively uncommon, malignant gliomas are associated with disproportionately high morbidity and mortality. Despite optimal treatment, the median survival is only 12 to 15 months for patients with glioblastomas and 2 to 5 years for patients with anaplastic gliomas. Recently, there have been important advances in our understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of malignant gliomas and progress in treating them. This review summarizes the diagnosis and management of these tumors in adults and highlights some areas under investigation.