Photodynamic therapy increases brain edema and intracranial pressure in a rabbit brain tumor model

The Implication of Photodynamic Therapy Applied to the Level of Tumor Resection on Postoperative Cerebral Edema and Intracranial Pressure Changes in Gliomas

AIM

The aim of our study was to explore the factors influencing cerebral edema and intracranial pressure in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients who undergo photodynamic therapy (PDT) after resection.

APPROACH

This was a retrospective controlled study of GBM patients treated with PDT-assisted resections of varying scope from May 2021 to August 2023. The baseline clinical data, cerebral edema volumes, intracranial pressure values, and imaging data of the GBM patients were collected for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 56 GBM patients were included. Thirty of the patients underwent gross total resection (GTR), and the other 26 patients underwent subtotal resection (STR). We found that the cerebral edema volume and the mean intracranial pressure in patients who underwent GTR were lower than those in patients who underwent STR. Moreover, univariate analysis showed that the scope of tumor resection was an independent factor affecting cerebral edema and intracranial pressure after PDT.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with STR, PDT combined with GTR significantly reduced postoperative brain edema volume and intracranial pressure in GBM patients.