Stereotactic radiosurgery for nonfunctioning pituitary tumor: A multicenter study of new pituitary hormone deficiency.

BACKGROUND: Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is used to treat recurrent or residual nonfunctioning pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (NFPA). The objective of the study was to assess imaging and development of new pituitary hormone deficiency. METHODS: Patients treated with single-session SRS for a NFPA were included in this retrospective, multicenter study. Tumor control and new pituitary dysfunction were evaluated using Cox analysis and Kaplan-Meier curves. RESULTS: A total of 869 patients (male 476 [54.8%], median age at SRS 52.5 years [Interquartile range (IQR): 18.9]) were treated using a median margin dose of 14Gy (IQR: 4) for a median tumor volume of 3.4 cc (IQR: 4.3). With a median radiological follow-up of 3.7 years (IQR: 4.8), volumetric tumor reduction occurred in 451 patients (51.9%), stability in 364 (41.9%) and 54 patients (6.2%) showed tumor progression.The probability of tumor control was 95.5% (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 93.8-97.3) and 88.8% (95%CI: 85.2-92.5) at 5 and 10 years, respectively. A margin dose >14 Gy was associated with tumor control (Hazard Ratio [HR]:0.33, 95% CI: 0.18-0.60, P < 0.001). The probability of new hypopituitarism was 9.9% (95% CI: 7.3-12.5) and 15.3% (95% CI: 11-19.4) at 5 and 10 years, respectively. A maximum point dose >10 Gy in the pituitary stalk was associated with new pituitary hormone deficiency (HR: 3.47, 95% CI: 1.95-6.19). The cumulative probability of new cortisol, thyroid, gonadotroph, and growth hormone deficiency was 8% (95% CI: 3.9-11.9), 8.3% (95% CI: 3.9-12.5), 3.5% (95% CI: 1.7-5.2), and 4.7% (95% CI: 1.9-7.4), respectively at 10 years. CONCLUSIONS: SRS provides long-term tumor control with a 15.3% risk of hypopituitarism at 10 years.

Third Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Residual Arteriovenous Malformations: A Retrospective Multicenter Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There are no studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of more than 2 stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) procedures for cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVM). The aim of this study was to provide evidence on the role of third single-session SRS for AVM residual. METHODS: This multicenter, retrospective study included patients managed with a third single-session SRS procedure for an AVM residual. The primary study outcome was defined as AVM nidus obliteration without AVM bleeding or symptomatic radiation-induced changes (RIC). Secondary outcomes evaluated were AVM obliteration, AVM hemorrhage, asymptomatic, and symptomatic RIC. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients (20/38 [52.6%] females, median age at third SRS 34.5 [IQR 20] years) were included. The median clinical follow-up was 46 (IQR 14.8) months, and 17/38 (44.7%) patients achieved favorable outcome. The 3-year and 5-year cumulative probability rates of favorable outcome were 23% (95% CI = 10%-38%) and 53% (95% CI = 29%-73%), respectively. The cumulative probability of AVM obliteration at 3 and 5 years after the third SRS was 23% (95% CI = 10%-37%) and 54% (95% CI = 29%-74%), respectively. AVM bleeding occurred in 2 patients, and 1 of them underwent subsequent resection. The cumulative probability rate of post-SRS AVM hemorrhage remained constant at 5.3% (95% CI = 1%-16%) during the first 5 years of follow-up. Transient symptomatic RIC managed conservatively occurred in 5/38 patients (13.2%) at a median time of 12.5 (IQR 22.5) months from third SRS. Radiation-induced cyst formation was noted in 1 patient (4.2%) 19 months post-SRS. No mortality, radiation-associated malignancy, or permanent symptomatic RIC was noted during follow-up. CONCLUSION: A third single-session SRS to treat a residual intracranial AVM offers obliteration in most patients. The risk of RIC was low, and these effects were transient. While not often required, a third SRS can be performed in patients with persistent residual AVMs.

Stereotactic radiosurgery versus active surveillance for incidental, convexity meningiomas: a matched cohort analysis from the IMPASSE study.

BACKGROUND: The optimal treatment strategy of asymptomatic, convexity meningiomas, remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to define the safety and efficacy of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in the management of patients with asymptomatic convexity meningiomas. METHODS: Data of SRS-treated patients from 14 participating centers and patients managed conservatively for an asymptomatic, convexity-located meningioma were compared. Local tumor control rate and development of new neurologic deficits were evaluated in the active surveillance and in the SRS-treated cohorts. RESULTS: In the unmatched cohorts, there were 99 SRS-treated patients and 140 patients managed conservatively for an asymptomatic, convexity meningioma. Following propensity score matching for age, there were 98 patients in each cohort. In the matched cohorts, tumor control was achieved in 99% of SRS-treated, and in 69.4% of conservatively managed patients (p < 0.001). New neurological deficits occurred in 2.0% of patients in each of the matched cohorts (p = 1.00). Increasing age was predictive of tumor growth [(OR 1.1; 95% CI (1.04 - 1.2), (p < 0.001)]. CONCLUSION: This is one of the first reports to suggest that SRS is a low risk and effective treatment strategy for asymptomatic incidentally discovered convexity meningiomas. In this study, tumor control was achieved in significantly more patients after radiosurgery compared to those managed with active surveillance. SRS may be offered at diagnosis of an asymptomatic convexity meningioma and should be recommended when meningioma growth is noted on follow-up.

Role of stereotactic radiosurgery in the management of pineal parenchymal tumors.

We evaluated 20 pineal parenchymal tumor patients who underwent radiosurgery at our institution over a 20-year period. Thirteen patients had pineocytoma, 5 patients had pineoblastoma and 2 patients had mixed pineal parenchymal tumors. The median radiosurgery prescription dose to the tumor margin was 15.0 (12-20) Gy. At an average of 54.1 (range, 7.7-149.2) months, 6 patients had died and 14 patients were living. The overall survival after radiosurgery was 95.0, 68.6, and 51.4% at 1, 5 and 10 years, respectively. Patients with pineocytomas had 1-, 3- and 5-year overall survivals of 100, 92.3 and 92.3%, respectively. In 19 patients who were evaluated with imaging, 5 (26%) demonstrated complete regression, 9 (47%) had partial regression, 2 (11%) had stable tumors and 2 (11%) showed local in-field progression. The progression-free survival after stereotactic radiosurgery for all type of pineal parenchymal tumors was 100, 89.2 and 89.2% at 1, 3, 5 years after radiosurgery, respectively. Stereotactic radiosurgery is an effective and safe alternative to the surgical resection of pineocytomas as well as part of multimodal therapy for more aggressive pineal parenchymal tumors.

First year experience with newly developed Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion.

A new model of Leksell Gamma Knife(R) (LGK), known as Perfexion (LGK PFX), was introduced by Elekta Instrument, AB, Sweden, in 2006. This model has a radically different design from the earlier models U, B, C and 4C. Dosimetric characteristics of LGK PFX, technical differences between LGK PFX and LGK 4C, experience gained with acceptance testing and commissioning of the LGK PFX, and comparison between LGK PFX and LGK 4C are presented in this study. Excellent agreement is found between the manufacturers recommended values of absorbed dose rate, relative output factors for 4 and 8 mm collimators, coincidence of mechanical and dosimetric isocenter, FWHM for beam profiles for various collimators and those reported in the present study. Excellent agreement is also found between the dosimetric characteristics of LGK PFX and LGK 4C for the 4 and 8 mm collimators. Examples of clinical cases treated with LGK PFX and impact of LGK PFX on workflow and dosimetric conformity of treatment planning is also given. The set up and treatment of patients on the LGK PFX is much more efficient since it is a fully automated system. The system also provides more options to generate plan with high dosimetric conformity.