Parameters:
(1) RTOG neurological score
(2) glucose level in the CSF
(3) infratentorial symptoms at onset (cranial nerve palsy; radicular or spinal involvement)
|
Parameter
|
Finding
|
Points
|
|
RTOG neurological score
|
3 or 4
|
0
|
|
|
1 or 2
|
1
|
|
glucose level in CSF
|
< 2.7 mmol/L
|
0
|
|
|
>= 2.7 mmol/L (49 mg/dL)
|
1
|
|
infratentorial symptoms at onset
|
absent
|
0
|
|
|
present
|
1
|
where:
• An RTOG of 2 indicates the ability to perform normal activities with minimal difficulty and without the need for nursing care.
total number of favorable findings =
= SUM(points for all 3 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum number of favorable findings: 0
• maximum number of favorable findings: 3
• The greater the number of favorable findings the better the survival.
• The type of cancer will impact overall survival. A patient with breast cancer tends to live longer than a patient with lung cancer.
• The mortality rate for the higher risk group was almost 100% at 150 days. About 20% of the lower risk group had survival to a year or more.
• Administering intrathecal chemotherapy improved survival.
|
Total Score
|
Risk Group
|
Median Survival
|
|
0 or 1
|
worse
|
25 days
|
|
2 or 3
|
better
|
90 days
|
