Objective To compare the clinical presentation, time elapsed to diagnosis, and survival of elderly patients (≥65 years) with that in younger patients with malignant primary brain tumors. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Four hospitals in Minneapolis, Minn. Patients Seven hundred fourteen patients diagnosed as having and treated for primary malignant brain tumors between 1980 and 1995; 230 (32%) were 65 years or older. Main Outcome Measures The type and duration of the chief presenting symptom, the time elapsed to diagnosis, the treatment modalities used, and patient survival were analyzed. Results Time elapsed from onset of symptom to diagnosis was not longer for elderly patients than younger ones, with the exception of patients aged 18 to 24 years, who had a significantly longer delay in diagnosis (P=.004). Elderly patients were significantly less likely to present with headache or seizure (P Conclusions Elderly patients (≥65 years) with malignant brain tumors are diagnosed as promptly as younger patients, although they have a markedly different constellation of symptoms. Since diagnosis of brain tumors continues to improve in the elderly, it may be more difficult to ascribe the steady increase in incidence to artifactual factors.

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/articlepdf/774051/noc7403.pdf

Problems in diagnosis of intracranial disease among the aged.

Brain tumors in the elderly : Recent trends in a Minnesota Cohort Study

Eighty patients older than 65 years underwent craniotomy for primary or secondary brain tumors. Glioblastoma was the most common tumor, followed by metastatic carcinoma and meningioma. Three patients died within 30 days of surgery. Twenty-three patients showed development of postoperative systemic complications, of which pulmonary complications were most common. Thirty-seven (44%) of the patients showed significant improvement, but 13 (21%) became worse after surgery. Most brain tumors in elderly patients are operable. However, the surgical indications should be determined by the nature of the tumor and the condition of the individual patient. Preoperative and postoperative management must be more demanding if systemic complications are to be avoided. (JAMA1981;246:53-55)

Brain Tumors in the Elderly

Neoplasms Involving the Central Nervous System in the Older Old

The twenty-two adult patients with subacute and chronic subdural haematoma seen in Leicester during the last 7 years have been reviewed. The clinical manifestations and results of investigations are described. The diagnostic difficulties which may confront physicians are discussed, with special reference to cases with no history of head injury masquerading as strokes. Stress is laid on the points which help with the differentiation.

https://pmj.bmj.com/content/postgradmedj/44/516/785.full.pdf

Subdural haematoma: presentation and diagnosis on medical wards

/pdf/intracranial-tumors-in-the-elderly-363eln78yg.pdf

Problems in diagnosis of intracranial disease among the aged.

Citations

Brain tumors in the elderly : Recent trends in a Minnesota Cohort Study

Brain Tumors in the Elderly

Neoplasms Involving the Central Nervous System in the Older Old

Subdural haematoma: presentation and diagnosis on medical wards

Intracranial tumors in the elderly