Quality of life after brachytherapy in patients with glioblastoma multiforme

• Published in: European journal of cancer (1990) Vol. 40; no. 7; pp. 1013 - 1020
• Main Authors: Koot, R.W, de Heer, K, Oort, F.J, Hulshof, M.C.C.M, Bosch, D.A, de Haes, J.C.J.M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2004; Elsevier
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living; Adult; Aged; Analysis of Variance; Biological and medical sciences; Brachytherapy; Brachytherapy - psychology; Caregivers - psychology; Central Nervous System Neoplasms - psychology; Central Nervous System Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Female; Glioblastoma - psychology; Glioblastoma - radiotherapy; Glioblastoma multiforme; Humans; Karnofsky Performance Status; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neurology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Prospective Studies; Quality of Life; Sickness Impact Profile; Stress, Psychological - etiology; Tumors; Tumors of the nervous system. Phacomatoses; Glioblastoma multiforme; Brachytherapy; Quality of life; Human; Malignant glioma; Nervous system diseases; Cancerology; Central nervous system disease; Pharmacology; Malignant tumor
• ISSN: 0959-8049; 1879-0852
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2004.01.018

As quality of life (QoL) is perhaps the most important outcome for patients treated for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), we measured QoL in GBM patients after brachytherapy. QoL was assessed by questionnaires for both patients and partners before brachytherapy and at various times during follow-up in 21 GBM patients by an extension of the Rotterdam Symptom Checklist (e-RSCL), consisting of four subscales. The Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) was also measured. Analysis of variance was done to evaluate the direct effect of brachytherapy (visit 1–2, short-term) and during follow up (visit 1–4, longer-term). Significant short-term effects were found for two subscales of the e-RSCL. Longer-term effects were found for all four subscales and for the KPS. A high correlation between partner and patient's QoL assessment was found. QoL in GBM patients after brachytherapy can therefore be carefully monitored with a subjective instrument such as the e-RSCL. Patients and partners experience QoL equally.