CyberKnife frameless single-fraction stereotactic radiosurgery for tumors of the sacrum

Object The role of stereotactic radiosurgery for the treatment of intracranial lesions is well established. The experience with radiosurgery for the treatment of spinal and sacral lesions is more limited. Sacral lesions should be amenable to radiosurgical treatment similar to that used for their intracranial counterparts. The authors evaluated a single-fraction radiosurgical technique performed using the CyberKnife Real-Time Image-Guided Radiosurgery System for the treatment of the sacral lesion. Methods The CyberKnife is a frameless radiosurgery system based on the coupling of an orthogonal pair of x-ray cameras to a dynamically manipulated robot-mounted linear accelerator possessing six degrees of freedom, which guides the therapy beam to the intended target without the need for frame-based fixation. All sacral lesions were located and tracked for radiation delivery relative to fiducial bone markers placed percutaneously. Eighteen patients were treated with single-fraction radiosurgery. Tumor histology included one benign and 17 malignant tumors. Dose plans were calculated based on computerized tomography scans acquired using 1.25-mm slices. Planning treatment volume was defined as the radiographically documented tumor volume with no margin. Tumor dose was maintained at 12 to 20 Gy to the 80% isodose line (mean 15 Gy). Tumor volume ranged from 23.6 to 187.4 ml (mean 90 ml). The volume of the cauda equina receiving greater than 8 Gy ranged from 0 to 1 ml (mean 0.1 ml). All patients underwent the procedure in an outpatient setting. No acute radiation toxicity or new neurological deficits occurred during the mean follow-up period of 6 months. Pain improved in all 13 patients who were symptomatic prior to treatment. No tumor progression has been documented on follow-up imaging. Conclusions Stereotactic radiosurgery was found to be feasible, safe, and effective for the treatment of both benign and malignant sacral lesions. The major potential benefits of radiosurgical ablation of sacral lesions are relatively short treatment time in an outpatient setting and minimal or no side effects. This new technique offers a new and important therapeutic modality for the primary treatment of a variety of sacral tumors or for lesions not amenable to open surgical techniques.

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CyberKnife frameless single-fraction stereotactic radiosurgery for benign tumors of the spine

Neurosurgical FOCUS ◽

10.3171/foc.2003.14.5.17 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 14 (5) ◽

pp. 1-5 ◽

Cited By ~ 59

Author(s):

Peter C. Gerszten ◽

Cihat Ozhasoglu ◽

Steven A. Burton ◽

William J. Vogel ◽

Barbara A. Atkins ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stereotactic Radiosurgery ◽

Tumor Volume ◽

Surgical Techniques ◽

Outpatient Setting ◽

Neurological Deficits ◽

Benign Tumors ◽

Minimal Risk ◽

Single Fraction ◽

Spinal Lesions

Object The role of stereotactic radiosurgery in the treatment of benign intracranial lesions is well established. Its role in the treatment of benign spinal lesions is more limited. Benign spinal lesions should be amenable to radiosurgical treatment similar to their intracranial counterparts. In this study the authors evaluated the effectiveness of the CyberKnife for benign spinal lesions involving a single-fraction radiosurgical technique. Methods The CyberKnife is a frameless radiosurgery system in which an orthogonal pair of x-ray cameras is coupled to a dynamically manipulated robot-mounted linear accelerator possessing six degrees of freedom, whereby the therapy beam is guided to the intended target without the use of frame-based fixation. Cervical spine lesions were located and tracked relative to skull osseous landmarks; lower spinal lesions were tracked relative to percutaneously placed fiducial bone markers. Fifteen patients underwent single-fraction radiosurgery (12 cervical, one thoracic, and two lumbar). Histological types included neurofibroma (five cases), paraganglioma (three cases), schwannoma (two cases), meningioma (two cases), spinal chordoma (two cases), and hemangioma (one case). Radiation dose plans were calculated based on computerized tomography scans acquired using 1.25-mm slices. Planning treatment volume was defined as the radiographic tumor volume with no margin. The tumor dose was maintained at 12 to 20 Gy to the 80% isodose line (mean 16 Gy). Tumor volume ranged from 0.3 to 29.3 ml (mean 6.4 ml). Spinal canal volume receiving more than 8 Gy ranged from 0.0 to 0.9 ml (mean 0.2 ml). All patients tolerated the procedure in an outpatient setting. No acute radiation-induced toxicity or new neurological deficits occurred during the follow-up period. Pain improved in all patients who were symptomatic prior to treatment. No tumor progression has been documented on follow-up imaging (mean 12 months). Conclusions Spinal stereotactic radiosurgery was found to be feasible, safe, and effective for the treatment of benign spinal lesions. Its major potential benefits are the relatively short treatment time in an outpatient setting and the minimal risk of side effects. This new technique offers an alternative therapeutic modality for the treatment of a variety of benign spinal neoplasms in cases in which surgery cannot be performed, in cases with previously irradiated sites, and in cases involving lesions not amenable to open surgical techniques or as an adjunct to surgery.

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Feasibility of frameless single-fraction stereotactic radiosurgery for spinal lesions

Neurosurgical FOCUS ◽

10.3171/foc.2002.13.4.3 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 1-6 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

Peter C. Gerszten ◽

Cihat Ozhasoglu ◽

Steven A. Burton ◽

Shalom Kalnicki ◽

William C. Welch

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Stereotactic Radiosurgery ◽

Treatment Time ◽

Surgical Techniques ◽

Outpatient Setting ◽

Neurological Deficits ◽

Therapeutic Modality ◽

Single Fraction ◽

Image Guided ◽

Spinal Lesions

Object The role of stereotactic radiosurgery for the treatment of intracranial lesions is well established. Its use for the treatment of spinal lesions has been limited by the availability of effective target-immobilizing devices. In this study the authors evaluated the CyberKnife Real-Time Image-Guided Radiosurgery System for spinal lesion treatment involving a single-fraction radiosurgical technique. Methods This frameless image-guided radiosurgery system uses the coupling of an orthogonal pair of x-ray cameras to a dynamically manipulated robot-mounted linear accelerator possessing six degrees of freedom, which guides the therapy beam to the target without the use of frame-based fixation. Cervical lesions were located and tracked relative to osseous skull landmarks; lower spinal lesions were tracked relative to percutaneously placed gold fiducial bone markers. Fifty-six spinal lesions in 46 consecutive patients were treated using single-fraction radiosurgery (26 cervical, 15 thoracic, and 11 lumbar, and four sacral). There were 11 benign and 45 metastatic lesions. Tumor volume ranged from 0.3 to 168 ml (mean 26.7 ml). Thirty-one lesions had previously received external-beam radiotherapy with maximum spinal cord doses. Dose plans were calculated based on computerized tomography scans acquired using 1.25-mm slices. Tumor dose was maintained at 12 to 18 Gy to the 80% isodose line; spinal cord lesions receiving greater than 8 Gy ranged from 0 to 1.3 ml (mean 0.3 ml). All patients tolerated the procedure in an outpatient setting. No acute radiation-induced toxicity or new neurological deficits occurred during the follow-up period. Axial and radicular pain improved in all patients who were symptomatic prior to treatment. Conclusions Spinal stereotactic radiosurgery involving a frameless image-guided system was found to be feasible and safe. The major potential benefits of radiosurgical ablation of spinal lesions are short treatment time in an outpatient setting with rapid recovery and symptomatic response. This procedure offers a successful alternative therapeutic modality for the treatment of a variety of spinal lesions not amenable to open surgical techniques; the intervention can be performed in medically untreatable patients, lesions located in previously irradiated sites, or as an adjunct to surgery.

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Biologically effective dose correlates with linear tumor volume changes after upfront single-fraction stereotactic radiosurgery for vestibular schwannomas

Neurosurgical Review ◽

10.1007/s10143-021-01538-w ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Constantin Tuleasca ◽

Mohamed Faouzi ◽

Philippe Maeder ◽

Raphael Maire ◽

Jonathan Knisely ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Standard Deviation ◽

Effective Dose ◽

Stereotactic Radiosurgery ◽

Tumor Volume ◽

Vestibular Schwannomas ◽

Benign Tumors ◽

Biologically Effective Dose ◽

Volume Changes ◽

Single Fraction

AbstractVestibular schwannomas (VSs) are benign, slow-growing tumors. Management options include observation, surgery, and radiation. In this retrospective trial, we aimed at evaluating whether biologically effective dose (BED) plays a role in tumor volume changes after single-fraction first intention stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for VS. We compiled a single-institution experience (n = 159, Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland). The indication for SRS was decided after multidisciplinary discussion. Only cases with minimum 3 years follow-up were included. The Koos grading, a reliable method for tumor classification was used. Radiosurgery was performed using Gamma Knife (GK) and a uniform marginal prescription dose of 12 Gy. Mean BED was 66.3 Gy (standard deviation 3.8, range 54.1–73.9). The mean follow-up period was 5.1 years (standard deviation 1.7, range 3–9.2). The primary outcome was changes in 3D volumes after SRS as function of BED and of integral dose received by the VS. Random-effect linear regression model showed that tumor volume significantly and linearly decreased over time with higher BED (p < 0.0001). Changes in tumor volume were also significantly associated with age, sex, number of isocenters, gradient index, and Koos grade. However, the effect of BED on tumor volume change was moderated by time after SRS and Koos grade. Lower integral doses received by the VSs were inversely correlated with BED in relationship with tumor volume changes (p < 0.0001). Six (3.4%) patients needed further intervention. For patients having uniformly received the same marginal dose prescription, higher BED linearly and significantly correlated with tumor volume changes after SRS for VSs. BED could represent a potential new treatment paradigm for patients with benign tumors, such as VSs, for attaining a desired radiobiological effect. This could further increase the efficacy and decrease the toxicity of SRS not only in benign tumors but also in other SRS indications.

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RADI-40. STEREOTACTIC RADIOSURGERY FOR BRAINSTEM METASTASES: AN ANALYSIS OF SINGLE FRACTION AND MULTI FRACTION TECHNIQUES

Neuro-Oncology Advances ◽

10.1093/noajnl/vdz014.131 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 1 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. i29-i29

Author(s):

Elana Nack ◽

Varun Iyengar ◽

Esther Yu ◽

Thomas DiPetrillo ◽

Timothy Kinsella ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stereotactic Radiosurgery ◽

Tumor Volume ◽

Small Sample Size ◽

Small Sample ◽

Single Institution ◽

Single Fraction ◽

Whole Brain Radiation ◽

Kaplan Meier ◽

Brain Radiation

Abstract PURPOSE: Utilization of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for brainstem metastases (BSM) is increasing. Multi-fraction SRS (MF-SRS) is a potential means of obtaining therapeutic gain while limiting toxicity. However, most available data assesses only single-fraction SRS (SF-SRS). This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of SF-SRS and MF-SRS for BSM. METHODS: Data was retrospectively collected for patients with BSM treated with SRS between 2003–2018 at a single institution. Kaplan-Meier method was used to evaluate overall survival (OS) and local control (LC). Independent t-test was used for correlations between groups. RESULTS: 29 patients (31 lesions) were identified; 13 patients (15 lesions) underwent SF-SRS and 16 patients (16 lesions) underwent MF-SRS. Median follow-up was 6.8 months (1–80.8 months). Post-SRS MRI was available for 78% of patients. Median dose was 16Gy (12–18 Gy) for SF-SRS and 24 Gy (18–30 Gy) for MF-SRS. MF-SRS was delivered in a median of 3 fractions (3–5). There was a trend toward larger mean tumor volume with MF-SRS (1.297 vs 0.302mL, p=0.055). OS was 64.8% at 6 months and 49.3% at 12 months. LC was 90.9% at 6 months and 69.9% at 12 months. LC was similar between SF-SRS and MF-SRS at 6 months (100% vs 79.5%, p=0.143) and 12 months (50.0% vs 79.5%, p=0.812). Among the 4 patients who experienced local recurrence, 3 received salvage whole brain radiation and median OS was 8.1 months after LF. Distant CNS failures occurred in 40.3% of patients at 6 months and 72.4% at 12 months. Tumor volume >0.5 mL was associated with worse LC at 6 months (64.3% vs 100%, p=0.022). One patient developed symptomatic radiation necrosis (1/29 lesions, 3.4%) after MF-SRS. CONCLUSION: SRS is a safe and effective treatment for small BSM. Outcomes were not different between SF-SRS and MF-SRS but analysis is limited by small sample size.

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Stereotactic radiosurgery for residual neurocytoma

Journal of Neurosurgery ◽

10.3171/jns.2001.95.5.0879 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 95 (5) ◽

pp. 879-882 ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

Elizabeth Tyler-Kabara ◽

Douglas Kondziolka ◽

John C. Flickinger ◽

L. Dade Lunsford

Keyword(s):

Stereotactic Radiosurgery ◽

Tumor Volume ◽

Neurological Deficits ◽

Response To Treatment ◽

Imaging Studies ◽

Content Type ◽

Adjacent Structures ◽

Initial Resection ◽

Fine Print

✓ The purpose of this report was to review the results of stereotactic radiosurgery in the management of patients with residual neurocytomas after initial resection or biopsy procedures. Four patients underwent stereotactic radiosurgery for histologically proven neurocytoma. Clinical and imaging studies were performed to evaluate the response to treatment. Radiosurgery was performed to deliver doses to the tumor margin of 14, 15, 16, and 20 Gy, depending on tumor volume and proximity to critical adjacent structures. More than 3 years later, imaging studies revealed significant reductions in tumor size. No new neurological deficits were identified at 53, 50, 42, and 38 months of follow up. The authors' initial experience shows that stereotactic radiosurgery appears to be an effective treatment for neurocytoma.

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Hypofractionated stereotactic radiosurgery: a new treatment strategy for giant cavernous sinus hemangiomas

Journal of Neurosurgery ◽

10.3171/2016.10.jns16693 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 128 (1) ◽

pp. 60-67 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Xin Wang ◽

Huaguang Zhu ◽

Jonathan Knisely ◽

Guanghai Mei ◽

Xiaoxia Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stereotactic Radiosurgery ◽

Cavernous Sinus ◽

Tumor Volume ◽

Clinical Status ◽

Neurological Deficits ◽

Vascular Tumors ◽

Imaging Features ◽

Patient Reported ◽

Cyberknife Radiosurgery

OBJECTIVECavernous sinus hemangiomas (CSHs) are rare benign vascular tumors that arise from the dural venous sinuses lateral to the sella. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) has emerged as a principal alternative to microresection for small- and medium-sized CSHs. Resection is a reasonable option for large (3–4 cm in diameter) and giant (> 4 cm in diameter) CSHs. However, management of giant CSHs remains a challenge for neurosurgeons because of the high rates of morbidity and even death that stem from uncontrollable and massive hemorrhage during surgery. The authors report here the results of their study on the use of hypofractionated SRS (H-SRS) to treat giant CSH.METHODSBetween January 2008 and April 2014, 31 patients with a giant CSH (tumor volume > 40 cm3, > 4 cm in diameter) treated using CyberKnife radiosurgery were enrolled in a cohort study. Clinical status and targeted reduction of tumor volume were evaluated by means of serial MRI. The diagnosis for 27 patients was determined on the basis of typical imaging features. In 4 patients, the diagnosis of CSH was confirmed histopathologically. The median CSH volume was 64.4 cm3 (range 40.9–145.3 cm3). Three or 4 sessions of CyberKnife radiosurgery were used with a prescription dose based on the intent to cover the entire tumor with a higher dose while ensuring dose limitation to the visual pathways and brainstem. The median marginal dose to the tumor was 21 Gy (range 19.5–21 Gy) in 3 fractions for 11 patients and 22 Gy (range 18–22 Gy) in 4 fractions for 20 patients.RESULTSThe median duration of follow-up was 30 months (range 6–78 months) for all patients. Follow-up MRI scans revealed a median tumor volume reduction of 88.1% (62.3%–99.4%) at last examination compared with the pretreatment volume. Ten patients developed new or aggravated temporary headache and 5 experienced vomiting during the treatment; these acute symptoms were relieved completely after steroid administration. Among the 30 patients with symptoms observed before treatment, 19 achieved complete symptomatic remission, and 11 had partial remission. One patient reported seizures, which were controlled after antiepileptic drug administration. No radiation-induced neurological deficits or delayed complications were reported during the follow-up period.CONCLUSIONSHypofractionated SRS was an effective and safe modality for treating giant CSH. Considering the risks involved with microsurgery, it is possible that H-SRS might be able to serve as a definitive primary treatment option for giant CSH.

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The Role of Stereotactic Radiosurgery in the Management of Foramen Magnum Meningiomas—A Multicenter Analysis and Review of the Literature

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers14020341 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 341

Author(s):

Felix Ehret ◽

Markus Kufeld ◽

Christoph Fürweger ◽

Alfred Haidenberger ◽

Susanne Fichte ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stereotactic Radiosurgery ◽

Treatment Modality ◽

Tumor Volume ◽

Histopathological Examination ◽

Foramen Magnum ◽

World Health ◽

Neurological Deficits ◽

Single Session ◽

Robotic Radiosurgery

Background: Foramen magnum meningiomas (FMMs) represent a considerable neurosurgical challenge given their location and potential morbidity. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is an established non-invasive treatment modality for various benign and malignant brain tumors. However, reports on single-session or multisession SRS for the management and treatment of FMMs are exceedingly rare. We report the largest FMM SRS series to date and describe our multicenter treatment experience utilizing robotic radiosurgery. Methods: Patients who underwent SRS between 2005 and 2020 as a treatment for a FMM at six different centers were eligible for analysis. Results: Sixty-two patients met the inclusion criteria. The median follow-up was 28.9 months. The median prescription dose and isodose line were 14 Gy and 70%, respectively. Single-session SRS accounted for 81% of treatments. The remaining patients received three to five fractions, with doses ranging from 19.5 to 25 Gy. Ten (16%) patients were treated for a tumor recurrence after surgery, and thirteen (21%) underwent adjuvant treatment. The remaining 39 FMMs (63%) received SRS as their primary treatment. For patients with an upfront surgical resection, histopathological examination revealed 22 World Health Organization grade I tumors and one grade II FMM. The median tumor volume was 2.6 cubic centimeters. No local failures were observed throughout the available follow-up, including patients with a follow-up ≥ five years (16 patients), leading to an overall local control of 100%. Tumor volume significantly decreased after treatment, with a median volume reduction of 21% at the last available follow-up (p < 0.01). The one-, three-, and five-year progression-free survival were 100%, 96.6%, and 93.0%, respectively. Most patients showed stable (47%) or improved (21%) neurological deficits at the last follow-up. No high-grade adverse events were observed. Conclusions: SRS is an effective and safe treatment modality for FMMs. Despite the paucity of available data and previous reports, SRS should be considered for selected patients, especially those with subtotal tumor resections, recurrences, and patients not suitable for surgery.

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Stereotactic radiosurgery for treating meningiomas eligible for complete resection

Radiation Oncology ◽

10.1186/s13014-021-01748-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Maximilian I. Ruge ◽

Juman Tutunji ◽

Daniel Rueß ◽

Eren Celik ◽

Christian Baues ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Adverse Events ◽

Stereotactic Radiosurgery ◽

Medical Condition ◽

Local Tumor Control ◽

Complete Resection ◽

Neurological Deficits ◽

Tumor Control ◽

Recurrence Rates ◽

Treatment Volume

Abstract Background For meningiomas, complete resection is recommended as first-line treatment while stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is established for meningiomas of smaller size considered inoperable. If the patient´s medical condition or preference excludes surgery, SRS remains a treatment option. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of SRS in a cohort comprising these cases. Methods In this retrospective single-centre analysis we included patients receiving single fraction SRS either by modified LINAC or robotic guidance by Cyberknife for potentially resectable intracranial meningiomas. Treatment-related adverse events as well as local and regional control rates were determined from follow-up imaging and estimated by the Kaplan–Meier method. Results We analyzed 188 patients with 218 meningiomas. The median radiological, and clinical follow-up periods were 51.4 (6.2–289.6) and 55.8 (6.2–300.9) months. The median tumor volume was 4.2 ml (0.1–22), and the mean marginal radiation dose was 13.0 ± 3.1 Gy, with reference to the 80.0 ± 11.2% isodose level. Local recurrence was observed in one case (0.5%) after 239 months. The estimated 2-, 5-, 10- and 15-year regional recurrence rates were 1.5%, 3.0%, 6.6% and 6.6%, respectively. Early adverse events (≤ 6 months after SRS) occurred in 11.2% (CTCEA grade 1–2) and resolved during follow-up in 7.4% of patients, while late adverse events were documented in 14.4% (grade 1–2; one case grade 3). Adverse effects (early and late) were associated with the presence of symptoms or neurological deficits prior to SRS (p < 0.03) and correlated with the treatment volume (p < 0.02). Conclusion In this analysis SRS appears to be an effective treatment for patients with meningiomas eligible for complete resection and provides reliable long-term local tumor control with low rates of mild morbidity.

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Stereotactic radiosurgery at a low marginal dose for the treatment of pediatric arteriovenous malformations: obliteration, complications, and functional outcomes

Journal of Neurosurgery Pediatrics ◽

10.3171/2014.3.peds13381 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 1-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Matthew B. Potts ◽

Sunil A. Sheth ◽

Jonathan Louie ◽

Matthew D. Smyth ◽

Penny K. Sneed ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stereotactic Radiosurgery ◽

Functional Outcomes ◽

Arteriovenous Malformations ◽

Target Volume ◽

Neurological Deficits ◽

Single Institution ◽

Risks And Benefits ◽

Scale Scores ◽

Time Of Presentation

Object Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is an established treatment modality for brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in children, but the optimal treatment parameters and associated treatment-related complications are not fully understood. The authors present their single-institution experience of using SRS, at a relatively low marginal dose, to treat AVMs in children for nearly 20 years; they report angiographic outcomes, posttreatment hemorrhage rates, adverse treatment-related events, and functional outcomes. Methods The authors conducted a retrospective review of 2 cohorts of children (18 years of age or younger) with AVMs treated from 1991 to 1998 and from 2000 to 2010. Results A total of 80 patients with follow-up data after SRS were identified. Mean age at SRS was 12.7 years, and 56% of patients had hemorrhage at the time of presentation. Median target volume was 3.1 cm3 (range 0.09–62.3 cm3), and median prescription marginal dose used was 17.5 Gy (range 12–20 Gy). Angiograms acquired 3 years after treatment were available for 47% of patients; AVM obliteration was achieved in 52% of patients who received a dose of 18–20 Gy and in 16% who received less than 18 Gy. At 5 years after SRS, the cumulative incidence of hemorrhage was 25% (95% CI 16%–37%). No permanent neurological deficits occurred in patients who did not experience posttreatment hemorrhage. Overall, good functional outcomes (modified Rankin Scale Scores 0–2) were observed for 78% of patients; for 66% of patients, functional status improved or remained the same as before treatment. Conclusions A low marginal dose minimizes SRS-related neurological deficits but leads to low rates of obliteration and high rates of hemorrhage. To maximize AVM obliteration and minimize posttreatment hemorrhage, the authors recommend a prescription marginal dose of 18 Gy or more. In addition, SRS-related symptoms such as headache and seizures should be considered when discussing risks and benefits of SRS for treating AVMs in children.

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TREATMENT OF SPINAL TUMORS USING CYBERKNIFE FRACTIONATED STEREOTACTIC RADIOSURGERY

Neurosurgery ◽

10.1227/01.neu.0000338072.30246.bd ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 64 (2) ◽

pp. 297-307 ◽

Cited By ~ 79

Author(s):

Gregory J. Gagnon ◽

Nadim M. Nasr ◽

Jay J. Liao ◽

Inge Molzahn ◽

David Marsh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Stereotactic Radiosurgery ◽

University Hospital ◽

Postoperative Treatment ◽

Spinal Tumors ◽

Radiation Toxicity ◽

Pain Scores ◽

Component Scores

Abstract OBJECTIVE Benign and malignant tumors of the spine significantly impair the function and quality of life of many patients. Standard treatment options, including conventional radiotherapy and surgery, are often limited by anatomic constraints and previous treatment. Image-guided stereotactic radiosurgery using the CyberKnife system (Accuray, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA) is a novel approach in the multidisciplinary management of spinal tumors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of CyberKnife stereotactic radiosurgery on pain and quality-of-life outcomes of patients with spinal tumors. METHODS We conducted a prospective study of 200 patients with benign or malignant spinal tumors treated at Georgetown University Hospital between March 2002 and September 2006. Patients were treated by means of multisession stereotactic radiosurgery using the CyberKnife as initial treatment, postoperative treatment, or retreatment. Pain scores were assessed by the Visual Analog Scale, quality of life was assessed by the SF-12 survey, and neurological examinations were conducted after treatment. RESULTS Mean pain scores decreased significantly from 40.1 to 28.6 after treatment (P < 0.001) and continued to decrease over the entire 4-year follow-up period (P < 0.05). SF-12 Physical Component scores demonstrated no significant change throughout the follow-up period. Mental Component scores were significantly higher after treatment (P < 0.01), representing a quality-of-life improvement. Early side effects of radiosurgery were mild and self-limited, and no late radiation toxicity was observed. CONCLUSION CyberKnife stereotactic radiosurgery is a safe and effective modality in the treatment of patients with spinal tumors. CyberKnife offers durable pain relief and maintenance of quality of life with a very favorable side effect profile.

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