Comparison of the Tubular Approach and Uniportal Interlaminar Full-Endoscopic Approach in the Treatment of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: Our 3-Year Results.

BACKGROUND: To report the long-term results of patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), for whom we applied the tubular and endoscopic approaches and previously published the short-term results. METHODS: A multicenter, prospective, randomized, double-blind study was carried out to evaluate 2 groups of patients with LSS who underwent microsurgery via a tubular retractor with a unilateral approach (T group) and bilateral spinal decompression using uniportal interlaminar endoscopic approaches (E group). Dural sac cross-sectional and spinal canal cross-sectional areas were measured with the patients' preoperative and postoperative magnetic resonance images. The visual analog scale, Oswestry Disability Index, and Japanese Orthopedic Association scores in the preoperative period and the first, second, and third years after surgery were evaluated. RESULTS: Twenty patients met the inclusion criteria for the research (T group; n = 10, E group; n = 10). The groups' visual analog scale (respectively; P = 0.315, P = 0.529, and P = 0.853), Oswestry Disability Index (respectively; P = 0.529, P = 0.739, and P = 0.912), and Japanese Orthopedic Association (respectively; P = 0.436, P =0.853, and P = 0.684) scores from the first, second, and third postoperative years were quite good compared with the preoperative period, but there was no statistically significant difference. A significant difference was found in the E group, with less blood loss (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The long-term results of the patients with LSS treated with tubular and endoscopic approaches were similar and very good. Bilateral decompression with minimally invasive spinal surgery methods can be completed with less tissue damage, complications, and blood loss with the unilateral approach.

Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Recurrent Glioblastoma Multiforme: A Retrospective Multi-Institutional Experience.

Introduction Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and lethal primary malignancy of the central nervous system. Despite standard therapy protocols, such as aggressive surgical resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, GBM's aggressive nature produces low survival rates. Tumor recurrence and progression are nearly universal. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) has been studied as an alternative treatment for recurrent GBM as a minimally invasive option that might prolong survival. The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate the efficacy of SRS as a treatment modality considering overall survival (OS) in patients with GBM who had tumor recurrence and were treated with SRS in three different institutions. Materials and methods We retrospectively reviewed patients who received SRS for recurrent GBM between 1992 and 2020. A total of 46 patients were included in this study. We recorded age at diagnosis, the extent of surgical resection, radiation treatment, chemotherapy regimen, Karnofsky Performance Status at the time of SRS and at last follow-up, use of adjuvant chemotherapy after SRS, and response evaluation criteria in solid tumors. Primary endpoints were OS after initial diagnosis and OS from the date of the SRS procedure. Results Patients received SRS at a median of 10 months (range, 1 to 94 months) after their initial diagnoses. Median follow-up was seven months from the time of SRS and 22.8 months since diagnosis. The estimated median OS for all patients was nine months (range, 1 to 42 months) after SRS and 23.8 months (range, 4 to 102 months) after diagnosis. Median OS after SRS was seven months for patients treated from 1992 to 2011 and nine months for those treated from 2012 to 2020 (p = 0.008; X2 = 7.008). Median OS for younger patients (i.e., those aged <50 years) was 37.1 months compared to 18.6 months for older patients (i.e., those aged >50 years; p = 0.04; X2 = 3.870). Patients who received SRS after 10 months since diagnosis had a median OS of 36.2 months versus those who received SRS sooner than 10 months, who had an OS of 15 months (p = 0.004; X2 = 8.145). Radiosurgery doses larger than 15 Gy correlated with a median survival of nine months versus seven months in those treated with doses <15 Gy (p = 0.01; X2 = 6.756). Lastly, patients who received adjuvant bevacizumab (BEV) and or chemotherapy after SRS had a median survival of 12 months versus seven months for patients who did not receive any additional therapy after SRS (p = 0.04; X2 = 4.196). Conclusion SRS focal recurrent GBM in selected patients may improve OS, especially when combined with adjuvant therapy such as BEV and chemotherapy. Other prognostic variables proved relevant such as patients' age, the dose delivered, and surgery-to-SRS time that translates to the time of recurrence. Our results were consistent with the published literature and added to the accumulating evidence regarding SRS in recurrent GBM; however, extensive, multi-center studies are required to make definitive recommendations on this treatment approach.

Treatment of Chordomas and Chondrosarcomas With CyberKnife Robotic Hypofractionated Radiosurgery: A Single Institution Experience.

Introduction The aim of this study is to determine the efficacy and safety of CyberKnife® (Accuray, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA) hypofractionated radiosurgery (HfRS) in the treatment of chordomas and chondrosarcomas. Methods A total of 24 patients retrospectively identified with chordomas (19 patients) or chondrosarcomas (five patients) were treated between 2012 and 2019 with HfRS as monotherapy or an adjuvant, rescue, or combination therapy. Tumors were located in the skull base (75%) and vertebral spine (25%). Of these, 19 patients underwent previous partial resection and four patients received previous conventional external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) (60-74 Gy). Exclusive or rescue HfRS (20 patients) was administered in five fractions with a median dose of 37.5 Gy (30-40 Gy). Combined tomotherapy-EBRT treatment (median dose: 54 Gy) and HfRS (16.5-30 Gy in 3-12 fractions) were performed in four patients with bulky chordomas. Results The median follow-up from HfRS was 28 months. During clinical follow-up, no deaths were registered with overall survival (OS) of 100% and the actuarial local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) was 93% at one year, 85% at three years, and 68% at five years. Acute toxicity related to HfRS was present in a single patient. Conclusions It is seen that HfRS is effective and safe for chordomas and chondrosarcomas, with rates of LRFS comparable to other radiation modalities.

EANO guideline on the diagnosis and management of meningiomas.

Meningiomas are the most common intracranial tumors. Yet, only few controlled clinical trials have been conducted to guide clinical decision making, resulting in variations of management approaches across countries and centers. However, recent advances in molecular genetics and clinical trial results help to refine the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to meningioma. Accordingly, the European Association of Neuro-Oncology (EANO) updated its recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of meningiomas. A provisional diagnosis of meningioma is typically made by neuroimaging, mostly magnetic resonance imaging. Such provisional diagnoses may be made incidentally. Accordingly, a significant proportion of meningiomas, notably in patients that are asymptomatic or elderly or both, may be managed by a watch-and-scan strategy. A surgical intervention with tissue, commonly with the goal of gross total resection, is required for the definitive diagnosis according to the WHO classification. A role for molecular profiling including gene panel sequencing and genomic methylation profiling is emerging. A gross total surgical resection including the involved dura is often curative. Inoperable or recurrent tumors requiring treatment can be treated with radiosurgery, if the size or the vicinity of critical structures allows that, or with fractionated radiotherapy (RT). Treatment concepts combining surgery and radiosurgery or fractionated RT are increasingly used, although there remain controversies regard timing, type, and dosing of the various RT approaches. Radionuclide therapy targeting somatostatin receptors is an experimental approach, as are all approaches of systemic pharmacotherapy. The best albeit modest results with pharmacotherapy have been obtained with bevacizumab or multikinase inhibitors targeting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, but no standard of care systemic treatment has been yet defined.

Comparative Study Between Uniportal Full-Endoscopic Interlaminar and Tubular Approach in the Treatment of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: A Pilot Study.

STUDY DESIGN: Multicenter, prospective, randomized, and double-blinded study. OBJECTIVES: To compare tubular and endoscopic interlaminar approach. METHODS: Patients with lumbar spinal stenosis and neurogenic claudication of were randomized to tubular or endoscopic technique. Enrollment period was 12 months. Clinical follow up at 1, 3, 6 months after surgery with visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score. Radiologic evaluation with magnetic resonance pre- and postsurgery. RESULTS: Twenty patients were enrolled: 10 in tubular approach (12 levels) and 10 in endoscopic approach (11 levels). The percentage of enlargement of the spinal canal was higher in endoscopic approach (202%) compared with tubular approach (189%) but was not statistically significant (P = .777). The enlargement of the dural sac was higher in endoscopic group (209%) compared with tubular group (203%) but no difference was found between the 2 groups (P = .628). A modest significant correlation was found between the percentage of spinal canal decompression and enlargement of the dural sac (r = 0.5, P = .023). Both groups reported a significant clinical improvement postsurgery. However, no significant association was found between the percentage of enlargement of the spinal canal or the dural sac and clinical improvement as determined by scales scores. Endoscopic group had lower intrasurgical bleeding (P < .001) and lower disability at 6 months of follow-up than tubular group (p=0.037). CONCLUSIONS: In the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis, endoscopic technique allows similar decompression of the spinal canal and the dural sac, lower intrasurgical bleeding, similar symptoms improvement, and lower disability at 6 months of follow-up, as compared with the tubular technique.

Trigeminal Trophic Syndrome Secondary to Refractory Trigeminal Neuralgia Treated with CyberKnife® Radiosurgery.

Trigeminal trophic syndrome (TTS) is a rare condition in which there is the involvement of the skin innervated by branches of the trigeminal nerve. Because of an alteration in the sensory function of the trigeminal nerve, an exaggerated manipulation of the skin by the patient occurs, with secondary ulcers in the affected areas. They are usually unilateral and located mainly at the beginning of the nose wing. There are very few publications in the current literature, so it is in the interest of doctors to know this rare pathology.

EANO guideline on the diagnosis and treatment of vestibular schwannoma.

The level of evidence to provide treatment recommendations for vestibular schwannoma is low compared with other intracranial neoplasms. Therefore, the vestibular schwannoma task force of the European Association of Neuro-Oncology assessed the data available in the literature and composed a set of recommendations for health care professionals. The radiological diagnosis of vestibular schwannoma is made by magnetic resonance imaging. Histological verification of the diagnosis is not always required. Current treatment options include observation, surgical resection, fractionated radiotherapy, and radiosurgery. The choice of treatment depends on clinical presentation, tumor size, and expertise of the treating center. In small tumors, observation has to be weighed against radiosurgery, in large tumors surgical decompression is mandatory, potentially followed by fractionated radiotherapy or radiosurgery. Except for bevacizumab in neurofibromatosis type 2, there is no role for pharmacotherapy.

Stereotactic Radiosurgery for the Treatment of Recurrent High-grade Gliomas: Long-term Follow-up.

High-grade gliomas (HGG) are the most frequent primary central nervous system tumors; treatment of HCGs includes surgery and post-operative conformal radiotherapy associated with temozolomide (TMZ or procarbazine/lomustine/vincristine [PCV], specifically in patients with anaplastic oligodendrogliomas or anaplastic oligoastrocytomas). However, recurrence is common. Re-irradiation has been utilized in this setting for years and remains a feasible option, although there is always a concern regarding toxicity. Modern high-precision conformal techniques, including stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), could improve the therapeutic ratio by delivering high biologically equivalent doses while reducing high-dose radiotherapy (RT) to normal brain tissue. In this paper, we present the results obtained after prolonged follow-up in patients who underwent SRS as a treatment for recurrent high-grade gliomas at San Francisco Hospital in Madrid, Spain.

Long-term outcomes after radiosurgery for glomus jugulare tumors.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: The treatment of glomus jugulare tumors (GJT) remains controversial due to high morbidity. Historically, these tumors have primarily been managed surgically. The purpose of this retrospective review was to assess the tumor and clinical control rates as well as long-term toxicity of GJT treated with radiosurgery. METHODS: Between 1993 and 2014, 30 patients with GJT (31 tumors) were managed with radiosurgery. Twenty-one patients were female and the median age was 59 years. Twenty-eight patients (93%) were treated with radiosurgery, typically at 14 Gy ( n = 26), and 2 patients (7%) with stereotactic radiosurgery. Sixteen cases (52%) had undergone prior surgery. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 4.6 years (range 1.5-12). Crude overall survival, tumor control, clinical control, and long-term grade 1 toxicity rates were 97%, 97%, 97%, and 13% (4/30), respectively. No statistically significant risk factor was associated with lower tumor control in our series. Univariate analysis showed a statistically significant association between patients having 1 cranial nerve (CN) involvement before radiosurgery and a higher risk of lack of improvement of symptoms (odds ratio 5.24, 95% confidence interval 1.06-25.97, p = .043). CONCLUSIONS: Radiosurgery is an effective and safe treatment modality for GJT. Patients having 1 CN involvement before radiosurgery show a higher risk of lack of improvement of symptoms.

EANO guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of meningiomas.

Although meningiomas are the most common intracranial tumours, the level of evidence to provide recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of meningiomas is low compared with other tumours such as high-grade gliomas. The meningioma task force of the European Association of Neuro-Oncology (EANO) assessed the scientific literature and composed a framework of the best possible evidence-based recommendations for health professionals. The provisional diagnosis of meningioma is mainly made by MRI. Definitive diagnosis, including histological classification, grading, and molecular profiling, requires a surgical procedure to obtain tumour tissue. Therefore, in many elderly patients, observation is the best therapeutic option. If therapy is deemed necessary, the standard treatment is gross total surgical resection including the involved dura. As an alternative, radiosurgery can be done for small tumours, or fractionated radiotherapy in large or previously treated tumours. Treatment concepts combining surgery and radiosurgery or fractionated radiotherapy, which enable treatment of the complete tumour volume with low morbidity, are being developed. Pharmacotherapy for meningiomas has remained largely experimental. However, antiangiogenic drugs, peptide receptor radionuclide therapy, and targeted agents are promising candidates for future pharmacological approaches to treat refractory meningiomas across all WHO grades.

Robotic Radiosurgery for the Treatment of Intramedullary Spinal Cord Metastases: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Modern technologies allow the delivery of high radiation doses to intramedullary spinal cord metastases while lowering the dose to the neighboring organs at risk. Whether this dosimetric advantage translates into clinical benefit is not well known. This study evaluates the acute and late toxicity outcomes in a patient treated with robotic radiosurgery for an intramedullary spinal cord metastasis. A 50-year-old woman diagnosed in May 2006 with invasive ductal carcinoma of the right breast T2N3M1 (two liver metastases) received chemotherapy with a complete response. Subsequently, she underwent adjuvant whole-breast radiotherapy, along with tamoxifen. After several distant relapses, treated mainly with systemic therapy, the patient developed an intramedullary lesion at the C3-C4 level and was referred to our CyberKnife unit for assessment. A total dose of 14 Gy prescribed to the 74% isodose line was administered to the intramedullary lesion in one fraction. One hundred and two treatment beams were used covering 95.63% of the target volume. The mean dose was 15.93 Gy and the maximum dose, 18.92 Gy. Maximum dose to the spinal cord was 13.96 Gy, V12 ~ 0.13 cc and V8 ~ 0.43 cc. Three months after treatment, magnetic resonance imaging showed a reduction in size and enhancement of the intramedullary lesion with no associated toxicity. During this period, the patient showed a good performance status without neurological deficits. Currently, with a follow-up of 37 months, the patient has the ability to perform activities of daily life. Intramedullary spinal cord metastases is a rare and aggressive disease, often treatment-refractory. Our case demonstrates that radiation therapy delivery with robotic radiosurgery allows the achievement of a high local control without adding toxicity.

Stereotactic radiosurgery in patients with multiple intracranial meningiomas.

PURPOSE: Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) delivers a potent, highly focused dose of radiation to the tumor while sparing the surrounding normal tissues. The purpose of this study was to assess the outcome of patients with intracranial meningiomas treated with SRS. METHODS: A total of 73 patients with 221 benign meningiomas treated between 1991 and 2005 with SRS and followed up for more than a year were reviewed. Fifty patients (68%) were treated with SRS to the primary meningioma while 23 (32%) received SRS to relapsing tumors adjacent or distant from the site of the initial meningioma that was previously treated with surgery alone. Mean tumor margin dose was 14 Gy (range 10-16). SRS was delivered after surgery in 117 meningiomas (55 patients). RESULTS: The median age at diagnosis was 47 years (range 16-74) and the median follow-up 5.8 years (range 1-13.6). The 3- and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates for all patients were 95% and 90%, respectively. The mean gross tumor volume decreased from 4.17 cm3 to 3.23 cm(3) after SRS (p=0.057). Twenty-two (10%) meningiomas increased after SRS. In addition, clinical symptoms improved in 36% and remained stable in 45% of the patients. With regard to morbidity of SRS, only 7 patients (9.6%) had late complications, including edema (N=4), brain necrosis (N=4), gliosis (N=1), and paresis of the III pair nerve (N=1). There was no treatment-related mortality. CONCLUSION: SRS for patients with multiple intracranial meningiomas is effective yielding a high rate of local tumor control, whereas treatment-related morbidity remains low.

Intra-operative electron beam radiotherapy for newly diagnosed and recurrent malignant gliomas: feasibility and long-term outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: Intra-operative electron beam radiotherapy (IOERT) is an alternative to dose escalation for the treatment of central nervous system tumors. The objective of this study was to describe the feasibility and long-term outcomes of IOERT in the treatment of primary and recurrent gliomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 1992 through December 2002, all patients treated with IOERT at the Hospital San Francisco de Asis, Madrid/Spain were retrospectively reviewed. The selection criteria included patients with superficial tumors, KPS >70 % and lesions <6 cm. Irradiation was administered in one section. The prescribed dose considered the amount of post-resection residual tumor, previous radiotherapy and the tolerance level of brain structures exposed to IOERT. RESULTS: There were 17 patients (53 %) with newly diagnosed malignant brain gliomas and 15 patients with recurrent tumors. The delivered dose varied from 8 to 20 Gy (median 12.5 Gy) for primary and from 8 to 16 Gy (median 10 Gy) for recurrent tumors. The median overall survival for the entire cohort was 13 months (14 and 10.4 months for the primary and recurrent, respectively). Three patients presented with radionecrosis, one patient with osteomyelitis at the craniotomy bone flap, one with intracerebral hemorrhage, and another patient experienced a pulmonary embolism. CONCLUSIONS: IOERT is a feasible technique and can be viewed as a tool in the treatment of newly diagnosed or recurrent brain gliomas.

Malformaciones arteriovenosas del tronco cerebral tratadas con radiocirugía con acelerador lineal. Resultados a largo plazo / No disponible

Objetivo Las malformaciones arteriovenosas (MAV) del tronco cerebral conllevan un alto riesgo de hemorragia recurrente y de morbimortalidad. Las opciones de tratamiento son limitadas y principalmente asientan sobre la radiocirugía estereotáctica. Estudiamos los resultados de nuestra serie de MAV de tronco tratadas con acelerador lineal (LINAC) con seguimiento a largo plazo. Métodos Se analizan retrospectivamente los datos clínicos y radiológicos de 41 pacientes consecutivos con MAV de tronco tratadas mediante radiocirugía con acelerador lineal de 6MV entre 1992 y 2010. Comprendían 25 lesiones en mesencéfalo, 14 en protuberancia, una en bulbo y otra bulboprotuberancial. Se analizan los resultados del tratamiento en cuanto a (..) (AU)

[Linear accelerator radiosurgery for brainstem arteriovenous malformations. Long-term results]. / Malformaciones arteriovenosas del tronco cerebral tratadas con radiocirugía con acelerador lineal. Resultados a largo plazo.

OBJECTIVE: Arteriovenous malformations (AVM) in the brainstem carry a high risk of recurrent haemorrhage, mortality and morbidity. Treatment options are limited and mainly based on stereotactic radiosurgery. We studied the results of our series of brainstem AVM treated with linear accelerator (LINAC) and with a long-term follow-up. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed the clinical and radiological data of 41 consecutive patients with brainstem AVM treated by radiosurgery with a 6MV linear accelerator between 1992 and 2010. Twenty five lesions were located in the mesencephalon, 14 in the pons, one in the medulla oblongata and one was bulbopontine. We analysed the treatment results in relation to survival, rate of radiological obliteration, rebleeding, and treatment toxicity. RESULTS: The obliteration rate confirmed by angiography/MRA was 59.5% on 38 controlled patients. The mean follow-up period was 61 months (range: 6.7-178) and the margin dose was 14Gy in most treatments. Up to 39% of patients received more than one radiosurgery procedure to achieve closure of the malformation. No statistical correlation was found with the margin dose, presence of pretreatment haemorrhage, nidus diameter or score on the Pollock-Flickinger grading system. The annual haemorrhage rate after radiosurgery was 3.2%. Three patients died from rebleeding and actuarial survival rate was 88% at 5 and 10 years after treatment. Four patients suffered new transient neurological deficits due to toxicity, and only one presented a permanent deficit (2.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Nidus obliteration in brainstem AVM must be achieved according to three main criteria: maximum obliteration rate forced by the high rate of rebleeding, minimal morbidity given its critical location, and the greatest possible accuracy. Stereotactic radiosurgery with our moderate-dose protocol, which we believe achieved these three premises, may become an elective therapeutic modality for these patients.

Outcome for patients with essential trigeminal neuralgia treated with linear accelerator stereotactic radiosurgery.

BACKGROUND: Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is one option for treatment of trigeminal neuralgia, after unsuccessful conservative approaches. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to retrospectively evaluate our institutional results in the management of patients with idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia treated with linear accelerator SRS. METHODS: Fifty-two patients were treated between January 1998 and December 2009 and were followed for more than 6 months (median: 26.6 months). Forty-seven patients (90%) had undergone previous surgery before SRS. The target dose ranged from 50 to 80 Gy. RESULTS: After SRS, 9 patients presented complete remission of the pain, and 21 were pain free but still under medication. Eleven patients reported a relief of more than 50% in crisis frequency. In 9 patients, no significant improvements were seen, and 2 presented an exacerbation of the pain. After an average period of 20 months, 15 patients reported pain recurrence. Results were better in patients older than 60 years (p = 0.019). Nineteen patients presented facial numbness after SRS, with a trend toward favorable treatment response (p = 0.06). CONCLUSION: SRS is an effective alternative to the treatment of essential trigeminal neuralgia, with long-lasting pain relief in more than 50% of the patients. Better results were seen with patients aged more than 60 years.

Preliminary results of helical tomotherapy in patients with complex-shaped meningiomas close to the optic pathway.

Meningiomas are the most common benign intracranial tumor. Meningiomas close to the optic pathway represent a treatment challenge both for surgery and radiotherapy. The aim of this article is to describe early results of helical tomotherapy treatment in complex-shaped meningiomas close to the optic pathway. Twenty-eight patients were consecutively treated. All patients were immobilized with a thermoplastic head mask and planned with the aid of a magnetic resonance imaging-computed tomography fusion. All treatments included daily image guidance. Pretreatment symptoms and acute toxicity were recorded. Median age was 57.5 years, and 92.8% patients had Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status scale ≤1. The most common localizations were the sella turcica, followed by the cavernous sinus and the sphenoid. The most common symptoms were derived from cranial nerve deficits. Tomotherapy was administered as primary treatment in 35.7% of patients, as an adjuvant treatment in 32.4%, and as a rescue treatment after postsurgical progression in 32.1% patients. Most patients were either inoperable or Simpson IV. Total dose varied between 5000 and 5400 cGy; fractionation varied between 180 and 200 cGy. Median dose to the planning target volume was 51.7 Gy (range, 50.2-55.9 Gy). Median coverage index was 0.89 (range, 0.18-0.97). Median homogeneity index was 1.05 (range, 1-1.12). Acute transient toxicity was grade 1 and included headache in 35.7% patients, ocular pain/dryness in 28.5%, and radiation dermatitis in 25%. Thus far, with a maximal follow-up of 3 years, no late effects have been seen and all patients have a radiological stabilization of the disease. Helical tomotherapy offered a safe and effective therapeutic alternative for patients with inoperable or subtotally resected complex-shaped meningiomas close to the optic pathway. Acceptable coverage and homogeneity indexes were achieved with appropriate values for maximal doses delivered to the eyes, lenses, and chiasm, despite the proximity of the tumor to these structures.

Stereotactic radiosurgery as a salvage treatment option for atypical meningiomas previously submitted to surgical resection.

BACKGROUND: Surgery is the initial treatment for atypical meningiomas (AM), but in cases of recurrence, options become more limited. We present our results from salvage treatment with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in previously surgically treated patients. METHODS: Sixteen patients treated between 1993 and 2007 were retrospectively reviewed. The mean follow-up was of 66.5 months. Most of the patients (81.3%) presented a single tumor nodule, while 3 presented multicentric disease (18.7%). Lesion volumes varied from 0.8 to 12 cm3 (mean: 6.1 cm3). A dose of 12 to 16 Gy was prescribed according to isodose curves from 50 to 90%. RESULTS: After SRS, 3 of the patients (18.8%) presented with tumor volume reduction, 7 (43.8%) remained stable, and 6 patients presented with tumor progression. The Kaplan-Maier-estimated progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 70.3% and 87.1% at 5 years and 44% and 54.4% at 10 years. Age, sex, site and tumor volume were not significantly associated with the prognosis. Patients presenting with multicentric disease presented a poorer prognosis, although without statistical significance (p = 0.14). CONCLUSIONS: SRS provided an effective and safe treatment for this group of patients with recurrent NBM. Patients who present with multicentric disease will probably fare more poorly.

Stereotactic radiosurgery in pituitary adenomas: long-term single institution experience and role of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis.

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is an effective treatment for incompletely resected or recurrent pituitary adenomas characterized by high rates of local control and endocrinological remission. The SRS-associated morbidity is usually considered minimal, but could not be neglected. It is mainly related to new pituitary hormone deficit, and seemingly caused by un-intentional inclusion of the hypothalamus, pituitary stalk and gland in the high-dose irradiation area. We report long-term clinical outcomes of 30 pituitary adenoma patients who received SRS in our institution. Dose was generally prescribed to the 90% isodose line and ranged from 10 to 16 Gy (mean and median 14 Gy). Selection of prescription dose was based on a tumor location and proximity to adjacent radiation-sensitive structures and previous radiotherapy. The length of follow-up varied from 15 to 230 months (mean 102.6 months, median 90 months). Overall, in 28 patients (93%) control of tumor growth was observed during the followup. In 19 patients (63%) tumor size was considered stable after SRS, in 9 patients (30%) tumor reduced in size and in 2 patients (7%) tumor progression was observed. Among 26 patients with functioning pituitary adenomas 17 patients (65,4%) had normalization and 4 patients (15,3%) had improvement of endocrinological function. Persistent hypersecretion was observed in 5 patients (19,3%) with functioning pituitary adenomas. New hypopituitarism after SRS treatment was observed in 4 patients (13.3%). The median maximum dose to hypothalamus, pituitary stalk and pituitary gland was 2.33 Gy (range 0.78-6.22 Gy), 11.20 Gy (range 3.17-15.49 Gy) and 12.83 Gy (range 5.00-15.24 Gy), respectively. SRS allows to effectively control tumor growth in 90-100% of patients and in the great part of patients a relatively rapid endocrinological remission is observed. Doses to the structures of hypothalamic-pituitary axis might have influence on the development of radiation-induced hypopituitarism. Every effort should be made to spare these structures as much as possible.