Fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy for large and invasive non-functioning pituitary adenomas: long-term clinical outcomes and volumetric MRI assessment of tumor response

ObjectiveWe describe the use of fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT) for the treatment of large, invasive, nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs). FSRT is frequently employed for the treatment of residual or recurrent pituitary adenomas.Patients and methodsSixty-eight patients with a large residual or recurrent NFPAs were treated between April 2004 and December 2012, including 39 males and 29 females (median age 51 years). Visual defects were present in 34 patients, consisting of visual field defects (n=31) and/or reduced visual acuity (n=12). Forty-five patients had evidence of partial or total hypopituitarism before FSRT. For most of the patients, the treatment was delivered through 5–10 noncoplanar conformal fixed fields using a 6-MV linear accelerator to a dose of 45 Gy in 25 fractions.ResultsAt a median follow-up of 75 months (range 12–120 months), the 5- and 10-year actuarial local control were 97 and 91%, respectively, and overall survival 97 and 93%, respectively. Forty-nine patients had a tumor reduction, 16 remained stable, and three progressed. The relative tumor volume reduction measured using three-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was 47%. The treatment was well tolerated with minimal acute toxicity. Eighteen patients developed partial or complete hypopituitarism. The actuarial incidence of new anterior pituitary deficits was 40% at 5 years and 72% at 10 years. No other radiation-induced complications occurred.ConclusionsOur results suggest that FSRT is an effective treatment for large or giant pituitary adenomas with low toxicity.

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Fractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy For the Treatment of Large Arteriovenous Malformations with or without Previous Partial Embolization

Neurosurgery ◽

10.1227/01.neu.0000134285.41701.83 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 55 (3) ◽

pp. 519-531 ◽

Cited By ~ 53

Author(s):

Erol Veznedaroglu ◽

David W. Andrews ◽

Ronald P. Benitez ◽

M. Beverly Downes ◽

Maria Werner-Wasik ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stereotactic Radiosurgery ◽

Stereotactic Radiotherapy ◽

Arteriovenous Malformations ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Late Complications ◽

Fractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy ◽

Medical Systems ◽

Significant Treatment ◽

Lost To Follow Up

Abstract OBJECTIVE: Despite the success of stereotactic radiosurgery, large inoperable arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) of 14 cm3 or more have remained largely refractory to stereotactic radiosurgery, with much lower obliteration rates. We review treatment of large AVMs either previously untreated or partially obliterated by embolization with fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSR) regimens using a dedicated linear accelerator (LINAC). METHODS: Before treatment, all patients were discussed at a multidisciplinary radiosurgery board and found to be suitable for FSR. All patients were evaluated for pre-embolization. Those who had feeding pedicles amenable to glue embolization were treated. LINAC technique involved acquisition of a stereotactic angiogram in a relocatable frame that was also used for head localization during treatment. The FSR technique involved the use of six 7-Gy fractions delivered on alternate days over a 2-week period, and this was subsequently dropped to 5-Gy fractions after late complications in one of seven patients treated with 7-Gy fractions. Treatments were based exclusively on digitized biplanar stereotactic angiographic data. We used a Varian 600SR LINAC (Varian Medical Systems, Inc., Palo Alto, CA) and XKnife treatment planning software (Radionics, Inc., Burlington, MA). In most cases, one isocenter was used, and conformality was established by non-coplanar arc beam shaping and differential beam weighting. RESULTS: Thirty patients with large AVMs were treated between January 1995 and August 1998. Seven patients were treated with 42-Gy/7-Gy fractions, with one patient lost to follow-up and the remaining six with previous partial embolization. Twenty-three patients were treated with 30-Gy/5-Gy fractions, with two patients lost to follow-up and three who died as a result of unrelated causes. Of 18 evaluable patients, 8 had previous partial embolization. Mean AVM volumes at FSR treatment were 23.8 and 14.5 cm3, respectively, for the 42-Gy/7-Gy fraction and 30-Gy/5-Gy fraction groups. After embolization, 18 patients still had AVM niduses of 14 cm3 or more: 6 in the 7-Gy cohort and 12 in the 5-Gy cohort. For patients with at least 5-year follow-up, angiographically documented AVM obliteration rates were 83% for the 42-Gy/7-Gy fraction group, with a mean latency of 108 weeks (5 of 6 evaluable patients), and 22% for the 30-Gy/5-Gy fraction group, with an average latency of 191 weeks (4 of 18 evaluable patients) (P = 0.018). For AVMs that remained at 14 cm3 or more after embolization (5 of 6 patients), the obliteration rate remained 80% (4 of 5 patients) for the 7-Gy cohort and dropped to 9% for the 5-Gy cohort. A cumulative hazard plot revealed a 7.2-fold greater likelihood of obliteration with the 42-Gy/7-Gy fraction protocol (P = 0.0001), which increased to a 17-fold greater likelihood for postembolization AVMs of 14 cm3 or more (P = 0.003). CONCLUSION: FSR achieves obliteration for AVMs at a threshold dose, including large residual niduses after embolization. With significant treatment-related morbidities, further investigation warrants a need for better three-dimensional target definition with higher dose conformality.

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Fractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy for Pituitary Adenomas

Neurosurgery ◽

10.1227/neu.0000000000001155 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 79 (3) ◽

pp. 406-417 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Sean M. Barber ◽

Bin S. Teh ◽

David S. Baskin

Keyword(s):

Stereotactic Radiotherapy ◽

Pituitary Adenomas ◽

Progression Free Survival ◽

Hormonal Control ◽

Fractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy ◽

Small Series ◽

Early Results ◽

Nonfunctional Pituitary Adenomas

Abstract BACKGROUND Early results of postoperative fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT) for functional and nonfunctional pituitary adenomas appear promising, but the majority of available evidence draws from small series with insufficient follow-up data to draw meaningful conclusions. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the long-term outcomes of a large series of patients undergoing FSRT for both functional and nonfunctional pituitary adenomas with the Novalis system (Brain LAB, Heimstetten, Germany). METHODS Chart data for 75 consecutive patients undergoing FSRT for a pituitary tumor (21 functional and 54 nonfunctional adenomas) at our institution between January 2004 and June 2013 were reviewed. RESULTS Radiographic progression-free survival was 100% over a mean of 47.8 months of radiographic follow-up (range, 12.0-131.2 months). Hormonal normalization was seen in 69.2% of patients with functional adenomas after FSRT, whereas 30.8% experienced partial hormonal control. Mild, grade I acute adverse effects were observed during radiotherapy treatment in 36 patients (48%), and objective, persistent worsening of vision occurred in a single patient (1.5%) after FSRT. New hormonal deficits were seen in 28.0% of patients after FSRT. Radiographic responses were inversely related to tumor volume. CONCLUSION FSRT delivers radiographic and functional outcomes similar to those seen with stereotactic radiosurgery and conventional radiotherapy with less resultant toxicity. FSRT is most beneficial for smaller tumors (those <3 cm in diameter).

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Surgical Management of Giant Pituitary Adenomas

Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences / Journal Canadien des Sciences Neurologiques ◽

10.1017/s0317167100030055 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 62-66 ◽

Cited By ~ 98

Author(s):

Gérard Mohr ◽

Jules Hardy ◽

Ronald Comtois ◽

Hughes Beauregard

Keyword(s):

Pituitary Adenomas ◽

Residual Tumor ◽

Empty Sella ◽

Csf Leak ◽

Visual Field Defects ◽

Pituitary Insufficiency ◽

Empty Sella Syndrome ◽

Type D ◽

Giant Pituitary Adenomas ◽

Type C

ABSTRACT:During the past 25 years, 77 giant pituitary adenomas have been treated surgically, including suprasellar extensions of type C in 66 cases and of type D in 11 cases. Non-secreting adenomas were present in 53 and secreting adenomas in 24 cases. All patients except 3 presented with significant visual field defects; including bitemporal hemianopia, superior quadranopia or unilateral temporal hemianopia, contralateral blindness in 73% of the cases, and one case with sudden bilateral blindness due to acute pituitary apoplexy. A single transsphenoidal procedure was carried out in 74% of the patients while 11 patients (7%) required re-operations for recurrent or residual tumor. Only 3 patients required a subsequent transcranial procedure. Complications included 1 CSF-leak, 1 empty-sella syndrome and 4 fatal post-operative hematomas. We prefer the transsphenoidal route even in very large or giant pituitary adenomas, since it allows rapid and adequate decompression of the optic nerves and chiasm, avoids major pituitary insufficiency in 60% of the cases and is associated with low morbidity-mortality rates.

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