Research Appraisalother

EANS-EANO guidelines on the extent of resection in gliomas

Neuro OncolGoldbrunner, Roland, Foroglou, Nicolas, Signorelli, Francesco et al.1 Jan 2026DOI

Clinical Snapshot

90CEBM
Evidence: Strongother

PICO Framework

P — PopulationPatients with gliomas of various types (newly diagnosed and recurrent glioblastomas, IDH mutant gliomas, ependymomas, WHO CNS grade 1 tumors)
I — InterventionNeurosurgical resection with varying extent of resection (EOR)
C — ComparatorDifferent extents of resection or conservative management
O — OutcomesSurvival, epilepsy control, neurocognition, quality of life, neurological status, impact on adjuvant therapy planning

Bottom Line

These joint EANS-EANO guidelines provide the most comprehensive evidence-based recommendations for extent of resection in glioma surgery to date. The guidelines appropriately match recommendation strength to evidence quality, with Level A recommendations for newly diagnosed glioblastomas and progressively lower levels for scenarios with less robust evidence. The multidisciplinary approach recognizes that EOR decisions must balance survival benefits against risks to neurocognition and quality of life. For Australian clinicians, these guidelines offer valuable decision-making support in complex cases and may help standardize practice across neurosurgical centers. The acknowledgment that overall evidence quality remains moderate highlights the need for continued research, particularly in areas receiving only good practice point recommendations. Implementation should be tailored to local expertise and resources while maintaining the core principle of maximizing safe resection.

Evidence: Strong

Key Findings

  • P Value: Not applicable for guidelines

  • Effect Size: Variable by tumor type and clinical scenario

  • Primary Outcome: Evidence-based recommendations for extent of resection across different glioma types

  • Nnt Or Sensitivity: Level A recommendation for newly diagnosed glioblastomas (strongest evidence)

  • Confidence Interval: Not applicable for guidelines

Clinical Application

High feasibility given use of standard postoperative MRI for EOR assessment Highly relevant to Australian practice; aligns with NHMRC evidence hierarchy and multidisciplinary cancer care standards. May inform PBS funding decisions for adjuvant therapies based on EOR Neurosurgeons, neuro-oncologists, and multidisciplinary teams managing patients with gliomas

Abstract

Intense efforts are employed to optimize neurosurgical resection of gliomas in different clinical scenarios. However, the level of evidence employed toward personalized treatment decisions is still moderate. Therefore, a joint task force was created by the European Association for Neurosurgical Societies (EANS) and the European Association of Neuro-Oncology (EANO) in order to provide interdisciplinary guidance on the extent of resection (EOR) in glioma surgery. This task force assessed the data on the EOR in gliomas, evaluated the level of evidence, and composed recommendations. The EOR is determined routinely by postoperative magnetic resonance imaging. Since EOR may be associated with survival and may have an impact on epilepsy, neurocognition, quality of life, neurological status, and also on planning of radiation and pharmacotherapy (evidence classes I-IV), recommendations of different levels can be made for the resection of newly diagnosed glioblastomas (level A), recurrent glioblastomas (level C), newly diagnosed (level B) and recurrent (good practice point) IDH mutant gliomas, ependymomas in children (level B) and adults (good practice point) as well as World Health Organization CNS grade 1 tumors (good practice point). We hereby report the outcome of this collaborative effort by the joint task force between EANS and EANO.

References

  1. 1.Goldbrunner, R., Foroglou, N., Signorelli, F., Schucht, P., Jakola, A. S., Minniti, G., Rola, R., Renovanz, M., Preusser, M., Furtner, J., Grossman, R., Mawrin, C., Demetriades, A., Weller, M., & Simon, M. (2026). EANS-EANO guidelines on the extent of resection in gliomas. Neuro-Oncology. https://doi.org/10.1093/NEUONC/NOAA276
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