Cochrane

The issue: Low-grade gliomas (LGGs) are slow growing, less aggressive brain tumors. The most optimal surgical management is under debate. The aim of the review: There are two surgical management strategies (treatments) for a person with a suspected LGG. These are biopsy, the surgical sampling of a small amount of tumor tissue, or resection, where ...

Review question We reviewed the evidence of the effectiveness and side effects of 131I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine (131I-MIBG) therapy in patients with newly diagnosed high-risk (HR) neuroblastoma (NBL). Background NBL is a rare solid cancer that develops from special nerves cells. Patients with newly diagnosed HR NBL have a poor outcome, despite intensive ...

Background Individual studies suggest that neuromuscular electrical stimulation, or NMES, may help improve the muscle weakness that people often experience as a consequence of a progressive disease. NMES uses a lightweight stimulator unit and skin electrodes to produce a controlled and comfortable muscle contraction. Being a passive form of exercise, ...

Review question: We reviewed and compared evidence on the usefulness of injectable and gaseous techniques for rapid awakening from anaesthesia in people undergoing surgery for brain tumour. Background: Brain tumour surgery is carried out most often with the patient asleep and with the use of injectable agents or gases. Injectable agents are delivered ...

Background: High grade glioma (HGG) is a rapidly growing brain tumour in the supporting cells of the nervous system, with several subtypes such as glioblastoma (grade IV astrocytoma), anaplastic (grade III) astrocytoma and anaplastic (grade III) oligodendroglioma. It affects about 5 in 100,000 people per year in Europe and North America. A number of ...

The issue An increasing number of people are surviving and living longer with cancer due to earlier diagnosis, better treatments and an aging population. In turn, there is an increasing number of people with long-term or long-lasting effects of cancer and its treatment. For example, up to seven in 10 cancer survivors experience changes in ability ...

Craniopharyngiomas are rare, slow-growing, benign tumours in the hypothalamic-pituitary region of the brain. Although they are benign, i.e. the tumour lacks the ability to invade neighbouring tissue or metastasise (spread to other sites), there is considerable morbidity and disability even when the tumour can be resected completely. Cystic craniopharyngiomas ...

Review question To assess the effects of conventional radiotherapy (with or without chemotherapy) versus other therapies (including different radiotherapy techniques) for newly diagnosed diffuse brainstem gliomas in children and young adults aged 0 to 21 years. Background Diffuse brainstem glioma typically occurs in the pons (part of the brainstem) ...

The issue There is a risk of serious complications developing after radiation treatment (radiotherapy) for cancer (late radiation tissue injury (LRTI)). These problems can be very difficult to resolve and there is some doubt as to the best approaches to treatment. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) involves breathing oxygen in a specially designed chamber. ...

Background A primary brain tumour (PBT) is a cancer that began in the brain rather than spread from other parts of the body. Fatigue (tiredness) is common in people with a PBT. This may be due to the tumour, its treatment or to the use of other medicines such as antiepileptic drugs (which are used to treat epilepsy seizures). It may also occur with ...