Comparative assessment of the efficacy of gross total versus subtotal total resection in patients with glioma: A meta-analysis

•At present, there exists a controversy whether to plan for STR or GTR of the lesion for patients with gliomas.•The analysis was designed to compare and evaluate the efficacy of GTR for improving clinical outcomes in patients with glioma.•Compared with STR, significantly superior efficacy of GTR was found in improving the survival.•GTR also benefited glioma in improving seizure control as well as in reducing the incidence of malignant transformation.