Gamma Knife surgery for optic glioma

2010 ◽  
Vol 113 (Special_Supplement) ◽  
pp. 44-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheng-Loong Liang ◽  
Kang Lu ◽  
Po-Chou Liliang ◽  
Han-Jung Chen

Optic pathway/hypothalamic gliomas represent approximately 2%–5% of brain tumors in children. Total excision, subtotal excision, subtotal excision followed by irradiation, radiation therapy alone, chemotherapy, and no treatment at all have been reported. In this article the authors discuss the results of Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) for optic gliomas in 2 children. Two pediatric patients, a boy and a girl, underwent GKS for optic gliomas at our hospital between March 2005 and August 2005. The children's ages were 10 and 16 years at presentation. The histological diagnosis was confirmed to be pilocytic astrocytoma in both cases. The tumor involved the optic chiasm in 1 patient and the right optic nerve in the other patient. Treatments were planned with the prescription of 11 Gy to the 50% isodose line for the optic chiasm glioma and 15 Gy to the 50% isodose line for the optic nerve glioma. In both patients, GKS was well tolerated. The follow-up periods were 60 and 55 months. Complete response with near-total disappearance of the tumors was observed in both patients. During the follow-up period, neither of the patients developed any endocrine dysfunction. Gamma Knife surgery permits treatment of optic glioma with good tumor control and no clinically relevant morbidity. With the ability to deliver a high dose to the tumor while sparing normal brain tissue, especially the optic nerve, optic chiasm, and pituitary gland, GKS should be the choice of treatment for optic gliomas. A larger number of patients and long-term follow-up are required for further evaluation of the efficacy and potential side effects of GKS.

2012 ◽  
Vol 117 (Special_Suppl) ◽  
pp. 102-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyung-Il Jo ◽  
Yong Seok Im ◽  
Doo-Sik Kong ◽  
Ho Jun Seol ◽  
Do-Hyun Nam ◽  
...  

Object The goal of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of multisession Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) in the treatment of benign orbital tumors. Methods Twenty-three patients who retained their vision despite having tumors touching their optic nerve were treated with multisession (4-fraction) GKS. The median tumor volume was 2800 mm3 (range 211–10,800 mm3), and the median cumulative margin dose was 20 Gy (range 18–22 Gy). Results The median clinical follow-up duration in these patients was 38 months (range 9–74 months). No patient experienced tumor progression in this study. In particular, a higher degree of tumor shrinkage was found in the 7 patients with cavernous hemangiomas than in patients with other types of lesions (p < 0.05). Of the 23 patients whose preoperative vision was preserved, 11 showed improvement in visual acuity and/or visual field and 12 showed stable visual acuity. No GKS-related adverse events were noted during or after treatment. Conclusions Multisession radiosurgery using the Gamma Knife may be a good strategy for tumors in direct contact with the optic nerve. A cumulative margin dose of up to 22 Gy delivered in 4 sessions is safe for preservation of visual function with a high probability of tumor control.


2005 ◽  
Vol 102 (Special_Supplement) ◽  
pp. 143-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang Kwon ◽  
Jun Seok Bae ◽  
Jae Myung Kim ◽  
Do Hee Lee ◽  
Soon Young Kim ◽  
...  

✓ Tumors involving the optic nerve (optic glioma, optic nerve sheath meningioma) are benign but difficult to treat. Gamma knife surgery (GKS) may be a useful treatment. The authors present data obtained in three such cases and record the effects of GKS.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii19-iii19
Author(s):  
Choo Heng Tan ◽  
Bengt Karlsson ◽  
Shilin Wang ◽  
John J Y Zhang ◽  
Yvonne Ang ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Gamma Knife Surgery (GKS) is widely used for treatment of brainstem metastases (BSMs) with or without whole bran radiation therapy (WBRT). We hypothesized that BSMs treated with GKS using lower doses and omitting WBRT result in acceptable tumor control rates and low complication rates. Methods A retrospective single center study was performed to investigate the outcome following GKS of BSMs. All 33 patients with follow-up information treated with GKS for 39 metastases located in the cerebral peduncle, midbrain, pons or medulla oblongata were included in the study. The median treatment dose, defined as the lowest dose to 95% of the tumor volume, was 18 Gy. The tumor control rate as well as the survival time were related to a number of patients, tumor and treatment parameters. Results The local tumor control rate was 100% at one year and 89% at five years, and the overall median survival was 17 months. A good performance status and a treatable extracranial disease were favorably related to survival time. Two complications were observed, one lethal hemorrhage at the day of the treatment and one transient complication three months following GKS, resulting in a 6% complication rate at five years. Four of the 10 patient with symptomatic BSM improved clinically after GKS, while six remained unchanged. Conclusions High local control and a low complication rates can be achieved using GKS for BSMs using lower doses as compared to brain metastases in other locations.


2006 ◽  
Vol 105 (Supplement) ◽  
pp. 26-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mooseong Kim ◽  
Sunghwa Paeng ◽  
Seyoung Pyo ◽  
Yeonggyun Jeong ◽  
Sunil Lee ◽  
...  

ObjectPituitary adenomas have been treated using a variety of modalities including resection, medication, fractionated radiotherapy, and stereotactic radiosurgery. The policy has been that all adenomas should first be treated with resection to reduce the volume of the tumor. The authors' study was conducted to determine the efficacy of using Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) for pituitary adenomas invading the cavernous sinus.MethodsOf 397 patients with pituitary tumors who underwent GKS between October 1994 and October 2005, 68 patients had pituitary macroadenomas invading the cavernous sinus. Sixty-seven cases were available for follow up. The mean age of the patients in these cases was 42.8 years (range 14–73 years). The male/female ratio was 0.8:1. The mean adenoma volume was 9.3 cm3. A total of 24 patients had undergone craniotomies and resection, and 11 patients had undergone transsphenoidal surgery prior to GKS. The mean follow-up period was 32.8 months. Tumor control was defined as a decrease or no change in tumor volume after GKS. Endocrinological improvement was defined as a decline in hormone levels to below 50% of the pre-GKS level.Tumor control was achieved in 95.5% of the cases. Endocrinological improvement was achieved in 68% of 25 patients. One patient suffered hypopituitarism after GKS.Conclusions Gamma Knife surgery is a safe and effective treatment for invasive pituitary macroadenoma with few complications.


2008 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. E5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rupa Gopalan ◽  
Kasandra Dassoulas ◽  
Jessica Rainey ◽  
Jonathan H. Sherman ◽  
Jason P. Sheehan

✓ The management of craniopharyngioma involves balancing adequate reduction in tumor volume and prevention of recurrence while minimizing damage to delicate surrounding structures. Because of the lesion's proximity to the optic chiasm and its relationship to the hypothalamic–pituitary axis, morbidity rates following treatment can be high. Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) is now being considered as a viable method of providing tumor control while ensuring minimal side effects. The authors conducted a literature review of 10 studies in which GKS was used to treat craniopharyngioma; some lesions had been previously treated and some had not. The mean marginal dose ranged from 5 to 16.4 Gy (mean 12.3 Gy). Tumor control was achieved in 75% of cases overall and varied with tumor subtype (cystic, solid, mixed). Control was seen in 90% of solid, 80% of cystic, and 59% of mixed tumors. The overall morbidity rate resulting from radiosurgery was 4% and the overall mortality rate was 0.5%. These results suggest that GKS may provide a favorable benefit-to-risk profile for many patients with craniopharyngiomas.


Neurosurgery ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 64 (suppl_2) ◽  
pp. A19-A25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brendan D. Killory ◽  
John J. Kresl ◽  
Scott D. Wait ◽  
Francisco A. Ponce ◽  
Randall Porter ◽  
...  

Abstract OBJECTIVE Radiation therapy is recommended for pituitary tumors that are refractory to surgical and medical therapies. The efficacy of single-fraction radiosurgery is established for these lesions, but lesions within 3 mm of the optic pathway cannot be safely treated with doses higher than 8 to 10 Gy. We hypothesized that the optic nerve will tolerate 5 consecutive daily radiosurgery fractions of 500 cGy with effective tumor control. METHODS We reviewed our first 20 patients with recurrent or residual pituitary adenomas within 3 mm of the optic chiasm treated with the CyberKnife radiosurgery system (Accuray, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA). Tumors were treated with a mean coverage of 97 ± 2.2% (range, 89.8–99.7%), a mean conformity index of 1.3 ± 0.2 (range, 1.1–1.6), and a mean treatment isodose line of 74.5 ± 6.6% (range, 60–86%). The primary end point was an interim analysis of visual preservation, and secondary end points were radiographic and endocrinological tumor control. RESULTS The mean follow-up period for visual field testing was 26.6 ± 10.5 months (range, 10.6–41 months). The vision of all 14 patients with intact preoperative vision remained intact. Of the 5 patients with impaired vision, 2 remained stable, and 3 improved. No patient's vision deteriorated. The mean radiographic follow-up was 29.3 ± 8.6 months (range, 10.2–40.5 months). On magnetic resonance imaging, 12 tumors were stable, 8 were smaller, and none enlarged. CONCLUSION This preliminary study establishes that the optic nerve and chiasm tolerate CyberKnife hypofractionated radiosurgery of 5 × 500 cGy to perichiasmatic pituitary adenomas. Early data suggest that this dosing paradigm may achieve satisfactory radiographic and endocrinological tumor control for these challenging lesions, but longer follow-up is necessary to confirm these results.


2006 ◽  
Vol 105 (Supplement) ◽  
pp. 91-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guenther Christian Feigl ◽  
Gerhard A. Horstmann

ObjectBrain metastases are diagnosed in 20 to 40% of all cancer patients and are associated with a considerable drop in life expectancy and often also in quality of life for these patients. Several treatment options are available including surgery, chemotherapy, whole-brain radiotherapy, stereotactic radiotherapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, and Gamma Knife surgery (GKS). However, management of brain metastases still presents a challenge and there is no general consensus on the best treatment strategy. The aim of the authors' study was to further evaluate the efficacy of GKS in the treatment of brain metastases and to evaluate the predictive value of volumetric tumor follow-up measurement.MethodsConsecutive patients with controlled systemic cancer and variable numbers of brain metastases were included in this prospective study. Patients with severe symptoms of brain compression underwent surgery before GKS. Each follow-up examination included a thorough neurological examination and a neuroradiological quantitative volumetric tumor analysis.A total of 300 consecutive patients (mean age 58 years) with 703 brain metastases were treated between December 1998 and October 2005. The mean total tumor volume (TTV) was 2.1 cm3. The overall local tumor control rate was 84.5%. In 79% of all treated metastases a mean TTV reduction of 84.7% was achieved using a mean prescription dose of 21.8 Gy. Only few, mostly mild, side effects were observed during the mean follow-up period of 12.7 months. The overall mean progression-free survival period was 9.4 months. There was a statistically significant difference in survival of patients with one compared with multiple metastases, regardless of the histological type and preceding treatment.Conclusions Gamma Knife surgery is a safe and effective treatment for patients with brain metastases regardless of the history of treatment and histological tumor type. It achieves excellent tumor control, significant TTV reduction without causing severe side effects, and accordingly, preserves quality of live. Volume changes after GKS did not serve as a predictor for treatment outcome and survival.


2005 ◽  
Vol 102 ◽  
pp. 189-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guenther C. Feigl ◽  
Otto Bundschuh ◽  
Alireza Gharabaghi ◽  
Madjid Samii ◽  
Gerhard A. Horstmann

Object.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the volume-reducing effects of gamma knife surgery (GKS) of meningiomas with and without previous surgical treatment.Methods.A group of 127 patients with a mean age of 57.1 years (range 9–81 years) with 142 meningiomas (128 World Health Organization Grade I and 14 Grade II) were included in this study. The management strategy reduces tumor volume with surgery when necessary (81 patients). Stereotactic GKS with a Gamma Knife model C was performed in all tumors of suitable size. Magnetic resonance imaging follow-up examinations with volumetric tumor analysis was performed 6 months after treatment and annually thereafter.The mean tumor volume was 5.9 cm3(range < 5 to > 40 cm3). The mean follow-up time after GKS was 29.3 months (range 11–61 months). The mean prescription dose was 13.8 Gy (range 10–18 Gy). A reduction in volume occurred in 117 (82.4%) of all tumors, and in 20 tumors (14.1%) growth ceased. The overall tumor control rate of 96.4%. The mean volume reduction achieved with GKS was more than 46.1%. Only five tumors (3.5%) showed a volume increase.Conclusions.Gamma knife surgery was effective in reducing meningioma volume at short-term follow up. Further studies are needed to examine the development of these findings over a longer period.


2013 ◽  
Vol 119 (6) ◽  
pp. 1486-1492 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason P. Sheehan ◽  
Zhiyuan Xu ◽  
David J. Salvetti ◽  
Paul J. Schmitt ◽  
Mary Lee Vance

Object Cushing's disease is a challenging neuroendocrine disorder. Although resection remains the primary treatment option for most patients, the disease persists if there is residual or recurrent tumor. Stereotactic radiosurgery has been used to treat patients with persistent Cushing's disease after a prior resection. The authors report on the long-term risks and benefits of radiosurgery for Cushing's disease. Methods A retrospective review of a prospectively collected database of radiosurgery patients was undertaken at the University of Virginia. All patients with Cushing's disease treated with Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) were identified. Those without at least 12 months of clinical and radiological follow-up were excluded from this analysis. Rates of endocrine remission, tumor control, and adverse events were assessed. Statistical methods were used to identify favorable and unfavorable prognostic factors. Results Ninety-six patients with the required follow-up data were identified. The mean tumor margin dose was 22 Gy. The median follow-up was 48 months (range 12–209.8 months). At the last follow-up, remission of Cushing's disease occurred in 70% of patients. The median time to remission among all patients was 16.6 months (range 1–165.7 months). The median time to remission in those who had temporarily stopped taking ketoconazole at the time of GKS was 12.6 months, whereas it was 21.8 months in those who continued to receive ketoconazole (p < 0.012). Tumor control was achieved in 98% of patients. New loss of pituitary function occurred in 36% of patients. New or worsening cranial neuropathies developed in 5 patients after GKS, with the most common involving cranial nerves II and III. Conclusions Gamma Knife surgery offers a high rate of tumor control and a reasonable rate of endocrine remission in patients with Cushing's disease. The cessation of cortisol-lowering medications around the time of GKS appears to result in a more rapid rate of remission. Delayed hypopituitarism and endocrine recurrence develop in a minority of patients and underscore the need for long-term multidisciplinary follow-up.


2012 ◽  
Vol 116 (3) ◽  
pp. 598-604 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian D. Milligan ◽  
Bruce E. Pollock ◽  
Robert L. Foote ◽  
Michael J. Link

Object Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) for vestibular schwannoma (VS) is an accepted treatment for small- to medium-sized tumors, generally smaller than 2.5 cm in the maximum posterior fossa dimension. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of GKS for larger tumors. Methods Prospectively collected data were analyzed for 22 patients who had undergone GKS for VSs larger than 2.5 cm in the posterior fossa diameter between 1997 and 2006. No patient had symptomatic brainstem compression at the time of GKS. The median treated tumor volume was 9.4 cm3 (range 5.3–19.1 cm3). The median maximum posterior fossa diameter was 2.8 cm (range 2.5–3.8 cm). The median tumor margin dose was 12 Gy (range 12–14 Gy). Serial imaging, audiometry (10 patients with serviceable hearing pre-GKS), and clinical follow-up were available for a median of 66 months (range 26–121 months). Tumor control failure was defined as either a progressive increase in tumor diameter of at least 2 mm in any dimension or a later resection. Results Four patients met the criteria for GKS failure, including 1 patient who demonstrated sarcomatous degeneration more than 7 years after GKS and died 3 months after microsurgical debulking. An enlarging cystic component was the surgical indication in 1 of the 2 patients who required resection, although 27% of tumors (6 lesions) were cystic before GKS. The 3-year actuarial rate of tumor control, freedom from new facial neuropathy, and preservation of functional hearing were 86%, 92%, and 47%, respectively. At 5 years post-GKS, these rates decreased to 82%, 85%, and 28%, respectively. At the most recent follow-up, 91% of tumors were smaller than at the time of GKS and the median maximum posterior fossa diameter reduction was 26%. On multivariate analysis, none of the following factors was associated with GKS failure, new facial weakness, new trigeminal neuropathy, or loss of serviceable hearing: patient age, tumor volume, tumor margin dose, and preoperative cranial nerve dysfunction. Conclusions Single-session radiosurgery is a successful treatment for the majority of patients with larger VSs. Although tumor control rates are lower than those for smaller VSs managed with GKS, the cranial nerve morbidity of GKS is significantly lower than that typically achieved via resection of larger VSs.


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