Butterfly gliomas of the corpus callosum: A systematic review of the literature

Abstract

Objectives: Although rare, butterfly gliomas are notorious for their inferior clinical outcomes. The objective of the present study was to systematically review the available literature regarding the optimal management protocols and prognosis of butterfly glioma based on the available literature. Materials and Methods: We searched the selected electronic databases with appropriate search terms. The studies selected for analysis included patients with high-grade glioma (World Health Organization, 5th edition, central nervous system classification, Grade III -IV), who had at least one lesion with continuous involvement of the corpus callosum (CC) and cerebral hemispheres. Results: A standard criterion to define a butterfly glioma is lacking. However, the involvement of the CC with significant bilateral extension is considered an acceptable criterion. The standard treatment regime involves surgical resection along with adjuvant therapy, such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and recent evidence favors surgical resection for butterfly glioblastoma in adequately selected patient subsets. Conclusion: The current review analysis revealed high heterogeneity and publication bias owing to the retrospective nature of the included studies, varying patient populations, and the degree of resection, needing further clinical trials to evaluate the effect of surgical resection and the molecular diagnosis on the overall survival (OS).