Sexual Dysfunction of Patients with Diffuse Low-Grade Glioma: A Qualitative Review of a Neglected Concern
Diffuse low-grade gliomas (LGG) commonly affect young adults and display a slow evolution, with a life expectancy that can surpass 15 years, thanks to multimodal therapeutic management. Therefore, preservation of quality of life (QoL), including sexual health, is mandatory. We systematically searche...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Cancers |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/14/12/3025 |
| _version_ | 1797489120176504832 |
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| author | Arnaud Lombard Hugues Duffau |
| author_facet | Arnaud Lombard Hugues Duffau |
| author_sort | Arnaud Lombard |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Diffuse low-grade gliomas (LGG) commonly affect young adults and display a slow evolution, with a life expectancy that can surpass 15 years, thanks to multimodal therapeutic management. Therefore, preservation of quality of life (QoL), including sexual health, is mandatory. We systematically searched available medical databases of Pubmed, Cochrane, and Scopus for studies that reported data on sexual activity or dysfunction (SD) in LGG patients. We analyzed results to determine incidence of SD and its association with QoL in this population. Three studies focused on SD incidence in patients presenting specifically LGG, or brain tumors including LGG. They comprised 124 brain tumor patients, including 62 LGG, with SD incidence ranging from 44 to 63%. SD was reported by more than 50% of interrogated women in the three studies. Regarding QoL, two out of the three studies found significant associations between SD and alterations of QoL parameters, particularly in the field of social and functional wellbeing. Finally, we discussed those results regarding methods of evaluation, inherent biases, and therapeutic implications regarding antiseizure medications and also planning of surgery, chemo-, and radiotherapy. Our review showed that SD is highly prevalent but still poorly studied in LGG patients. As those patients are usually young and enjoy an active life, there is a need to assess more systematically the occurrence of SD in clinical routine, in order to adapt cancer treatments accordingly, to manage actively these troubles, and finally to improve patients’ QoL in the long run. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:11:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-46bc3f3b402343a8bd43b7499eb51b8e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6694 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:11:58Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cancers |
| spelling | doaj.art-46bc3f3b402343a8bd43b7499eb51b8e2023-11-23T15:58:11ZengMDPI AGCancers2072-66942022-06-011412302510.3390/cancers14123025Sexual Dysfunction of Patients with Diffuse Low-Grade Glioma: A Qualitative Review of a Neglected ConcernArnaud Lombard0Hugues Duffau1Department of Neurosurgery, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire of Liège, 4000 Liège, BelgiumDepartment of Neurosurgery, Gui de Chauliac Hospital, 34295 Montpellier, FranceDiffuse low-grade gliomas (LGG) commonly affect young adults and display a slow evolution, with a life expectancy that can surpass 15 years, thanks to multimodal therapeutic management. Therefore, preservation of quality of life (QoL), including sexual health, is mandatory. We systematically searched available medical databases of Pubmed, Cochrane, and Scopus for studies that reported data on sexual activity or dysfunction (SD) in LGG patients. We analyzed results to determine incidence of SD and its association with QoL in this population. Three studies focused on SD incidence in patients presenting specifically LGG, or brain tumors including LGG. They comprised 124 brain tumor patients, including 62 LGG, with SD incidence ranging from 44 to 63%. SD was reported by more than 50% of interrogated women in the three studies. Regarding QoL, two out of the three studies found significant associations between SD and alterations of QoL parameters, particularly in the field of social and functional wellbeing. Finally, we discussed those results regarding methods of evaluation, inherent biases, and therapeutic implications regarding antiseizure medications and also planning of surgery, chemo-, and radiotherapy. Our review showed that SD is highly prevalent but still poorly studied in LGG patients. As those patients are usually young and enjoy an active life, there is a need to assess more systematically the occurrence of SD in clinical routine, in order to adapt cancer treatments accordingly, to manage actively these troubles, and finally to improve patients’ QoL in the long run.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/14/12/3025sexual activitysexual dysfunctionlow-grade gliomasurgerychemotherapyradiotherapy |
| spellingShingle | Arnaud Lombard Hugues Duffau Sexual Dysfunction of Patients with Diffuse Low-Grade Glioma: A Qualitative Review of a Neglected Concern Cancers sexual activity sexual dysfunction low-grade glioma surgery chemotherapy radiotherapy |
| title | Sexual Dysfunction of Patients with Diffuse Low-Grade Glioma: A Qualitative Review of a Neglected Concern |
| title_full | Sexual Dysfunction of Patients with Diffuse Low-Grade Glioma: A Qualitative Review of a Neglected Concern |
| title_fullStr | Sexual Dysfunction of Patients with Diffuse Low-Grade Glioma: A Qualitative Review of a Neglected Concern |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sexual Dysfunction of Patients with Diffuse Low-Grade Glioma: A Qualitative Review of a Neglected Concern |
| title_short | Sexual Dysfunction of Patients with Diffuse Low-Grade Glioma: A Qualitative Review of a Neglected Concern |
| title_sort | sexual dysfunction of patients with diffuse low grade glioma a qualitative review of a neglected concern |
| topic | sexual activity sexual dysfunction low-grade glioma surgery chemotherapy radiotherapy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/14/12/3025 |
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