Pseudoprogression and treatment effect

Neurosurg Clin N Am. 2012 Apr;23(2):277-87, viii-ix. doi: 10.1016/j.nec.2012.01.002. Epub 2012 Feb 14.

Abstract

The standard of care for newly diagnosed malignant glioblastoma entails postoperative radiotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy with temozolomide. There has been an increase in the incidence of enhancing and progressive lesions seen on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) following treatment. Conventional MRI with gadolinium contrast is unable to distinguish between the effects of treatment and actual tumor recurrence. New modalities have provided additional information for distinguishing treatment effects from tumor progression but are not 100% sensitive or specific in diagnosing progression. Novel radiographic or nonradiographic biomarkers with sensitivity and specificity verified in large randomized clinical trials are needed to detect progression.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / therapeutic use
  • Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Brain Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Disease Progression
  • Glioblastoma / drug therapy
  • Glioblastoma / pathology*
  • Glioblastoma / radiotherapy
  • Humans
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / drug therapy
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / pathology*
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / radiotherapy
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / drug therapy
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / pathology*
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / radiotherapy

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating