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Meta-Analysis
. 2025 Jan 16;167(1):19.
doi: 10.1007/s00701-024-06414-2.

Communicating hydrocephalus in glioblastoma presenting as chronic hydrocephalus: systematic review and meta-analysis

Rebeca Pérez-Alfayate  1 , Santiago Cabezas-Camarero  2 , Juan Pablo Castaño-Montoya  3 , Ana Alejandra Arévalo-Saenz  3 , Angela Carrascosa-Granada  3 , Pedro Alonso-Lera  3 , Giovanni Grasso  4
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Communicating hydrocephalus in glioblastoma presenting as chronic hydrocephalus: systematic review and meta-analysis

Rebeca Pérez-Alfayate et al. Acta Neurochir (Wien). .

Abstract

Objective: Communicating hydrocephalus (CH) is an uncommon complication that can affect patients with glioblastoma (GBM). Due to its clinical and radiological findings, it presents as a chronic hydrocephalus. The mechanisms underlying its occurrence and impact on the prognosis of the disease are poorly known, but some studies have suggested that shunting can have a positive impact on the quality of life of these patients.

Methods: The authors performed a systematic literature review and meta-analysis to identify the possible risk factors that could help to identify CH cases in glioblastoma, using the MEDLINE/PubMed and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews databases. The Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tool was used to assess the risk of bias.

Results: Our search yielded 273 studies, but only 9 records were included in the final quantitative analysis. CH in glioblastoma patients was found to be very uncommon (proportion 0.04 out of 1; range 0.03-0.05, p < 0.01, CI:95%) and its occurrence was associated with a previous ventricular opening (0.85 out of 1; range 0.66-0.94, p < 0.01, CI:95%).

Conclusion: CH in glioblastoma should be suspected in patients with GBM who have undergone accidental ventricular opening during tumor resection and presenting with chronic hydrocephalus symptoms.

Keywords: Communicating hydrocephalus; Glioblastoma; Outcome; Quality of life; Shunting; Ventriculoperitoneal shunt.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethical approval: This declaration is not applicable for this study. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
PRISMA flow diagram. Nine articles were incorporated into the review from a total of 273 titles. CH, Chronic hydrocephalus; OH, Obstructive hydrocephalus
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Pooled estimates of (A) hydrocephalus incidence in GBM, B percentage of men developing hydrocephalus, C hydrocephalus incidence in frontal glioma location, D percentage of ventricular opening in cases of hydrocephalus, E reoperated cases developing hydrocephalus
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Pooled estimates of (A) hydrocephalus incidence in GBM, B percentage of men developing hydrocephalus, C hydrocephalus incidence in frontal glioma location, D percentage of ventricular opening in cases of hydrocephalus, E reoperated cases developing hydrocephalus
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