As reported, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, 76, who suffered a seizure on Saturday, has been diagnosed with a malignant glioma in his left parietal lobe.

Neurosurgeon Ronald Warnick, M.D., of the University of Cincinnati, a glioblastoma multiforme researcher, said the parietal lobe controls temperature sensation, touch, pain, and proprieception. Also, Gerstmann syndrome in the case of large tumors can affect handwriting, calculations, and knowledge of which finger is which.

Whether the tumor can be resected successfully depends on depth and location within the lobe, he said. The deeper it is, the less favorable. If the tumor invades the corpus callosum, it is also less favorable for resection.

Dr. Warnick said that if the tumor is close to the junction of the frontal lobe resection may be difficult. But if it is close to the junction with the occipital lobe it is more favorable to a radical resection of at least 95% of the tumor as seen on the MRI scan. The goal is resection of 98% of the visualized tumor to extend survival, but that extension, noted Dr. Warnick, may be only three to six extra months.

For a rarely seen grade 1 glioma, there is a 90% five-year survival expectancy. For a grade 2 glioma, there is a 60% to 70% five-year survival expectancy after surgery and radiation. For a grade 3 glioma, there is a 30% five-year survival rate after surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. For a glioblastoma multiforme, five-year survival is about 3%.

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