Objective To evaluate the efficacy of low frequency pulsed electromagnetic field (LFPEMF) on peritumoral edema in patients with glioma, providing a theoretical basis for clinical treatment of peritumoral edema.

Methods This study included 32 patients with recurrent cerebral glioma with peritumoral edema after the operation of glioma in department of glioma, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University from March 2017 to December 2018.The period of LFPEMF treatment was 10-14 days.The clinical symptoms related to brain edema were recorded before and after treatment.The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (National Institute of health stroke scale, NIHSS), Karnofsky quality of life score (KPS), brain edema and tumor range in cranial MRI, T lymphocyte subgroup CD4+/CD8+, superoxide dismutase (SOD) were recorded.The SPSS21.0 statistical analysis software was used to carry out analysis by using self controlled study.P < 0.05 was statistically significant.

Results After the treatment of LFPEMF, the results showed that LFPEMF was effective in 25 patients, invalid in 7 patients, and the total effective percentage was 78.13%.The area of brain edema was significantly improved after using LFPEMF(P < 0.05).There was no significant improvement in the area of brain tumor after using LFPEMF therapy (P>0.05).KPS and NIHSS scores improved significantly after using LFPEMF (P < 0.05).

Conclusion In the patients with peritumoral edema of glioma, the application of LFPEMF in the patients′ Yongquan point and Lao Gong point can reduce peritumoral edema, and improve clinical symptoms.