Is gross-total resection sufficient treatment for posterior fossa ependymomas?

2005 ◽  
Vol 102 (4) ◽  
pp. 629-636 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leland Rogers ◽  
Jeanette Pueschel ◽  
Robert Spetzler ◽  
William Shapiro ◽  
Stephen Coons ◽  
...  

Object. The goals of this study were to analyze outcomes in patients with posterior fossa ependymomas, determine whether gross-total resection (GTR) alone is appropriate treatment, and evaluate the role of radiation therapy. Methods. All patients with newly diagnosed intracranial ependymomas treated at Barrow Neurological Institute between 1983 and 2002 were identified. Those with supratentorial primary lesions, subependymomas, or neuraxis dissemination were excluded. Forty-five patients met the criteria for the study. Gross-total resection was accomplished in 32 patients (71%) and subtotal resection (STR) in 13 (29%). Radiation therapy was given to 25 patients: 13 following GTR and 12 after STR. The radiation fields were craniospinal followed by a posterior fossa boost in six patients and posterior fossa or local only in the remaining patients. With a median follow-up period of 66 months, the median duration of local control was 73.5 months with GTR alone, but has not yet been reached for patients with both GTR and radiotherapy (p = 0.020). The median duration of local control following STR and radiotherapy was 79.6 months. The 10-year actuarial local control rate was 100% for patients who underwent GTR and radiotherapy, 50% for those who underwent GTR alone, and 36% for those who underwent both STR and radiotherapy, representing significant differences between the GTR-plus-radiotherapy and GTR-alone cohorts (p = 0.018), and between the GTR-plus-radiotherapy and the STR-plus-radiotherapy group (p = 0.003). There was no significant difference in the 10-year actuarial local control rate between the GTR-alone and STR-plus-radiotherapy cohorts (p = 0.370). The 10-year overall survival was numerically superior in patients who underwent both GTR and radiotherapy: 83% compared with 67% in those who underwent GTR alone and 43% in those who underwent both STR and radiotherapy. These differences did not achieve statistical significance. Univariate analyses revealed that radiotherapy, tumor grade, and extent of resection were significant predictors of local control. Conclusions. Gross-total resection should be the intent of surgery when it can be accomplished with an acceptable degree of morbidity. Even after GTR has been confirmed with postoperative imaging, however, adjuvant radiotherapy significantly improves local control. The authors currently recommend the use of postoperative radiotherapy, regardless of whether the resection is gross total or subtotal.

1999 ◽  
Vol 90 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie E. York ◽  
Rasim H. Berk ◽  
Gregory N. Fuller ◽  
Jasti S. Rao ◽  
Dima Abi-Said ◽  
...  

Object. Primary chondrosarcoma of the spine is extremely rare. During the last 43 years only 21 patients with this disease were registered at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. The purpose of this study was to examine the demographic characteristics, treatments, and outcomes of this set of patients. Methods. Medical records for 21 patients were reviewed. Age, sex, race, clinical presentation, tumor histology, tumor location in the spinal column, treatments, surgical details, and response to treatment were recorded. Surgical procedures were categorized as either gross-total resection or subtotal excision of tumor. Neurological function was assessed using Frankel's functional classification. Time to recurrence and survival analyses were performed using the Kaplan—Meier method. The median age of patients was 51 years, with fairly equal gender representation. Eighteen patients underwent at least one surgical procedure for a total of 28 surgical procedures: seven radical resections and 21 subtotal excisions. Radiation therapy was used in conjunction with 10 of the 28 surgical procedures. The median Kaplan—Meier estimate of overall survival for the entire group was 6 years (range 6 months–17 years). Tumors recurred after 18 of the 28 procedures. Kaplan—Meier analysis revealed a statistically significant difference in the per-procedure disease-free interval after gross-total resection relative to subtotal excision (exact log rank 3.39; p = 0.04). The addition of radiation therapy prolonged the median disease-free interval from 16 to 44 months, although this was not statistically significant (exact log rank 2.63; p = 0.16). Conclusions. Our results suggest that gross-total resection of the chondrosarcoma provides the best chance for prolonging the disease-free interval in patients. Subtotal excision should be avoided whenever possible. Addition of radiation therapy does not appear to lengthen significantly the disease-free interval in this patient population.


1995 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 116-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan S. Glasser ◽  
Amyn M. Rojiani ◽  
J. Parker Mickle ◽  
Thomas A. Eskin

✓ The authors report the case of a 36-year-old woman who underwent gross total resection of a right cerebellar pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma with atypical features. She had undergone surgery 16 years previously for what was thought to be a right frontal glioblastoma multiforme. In retrospect, based on the histopathology and the clinical course, both lesions were considered to represent atypical variants of pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma. This report examines the histological and clinical characteristics of this posterior fossa lesion, which exhibited histologically malignant features but has run a relatively indolent course.


1996 ◽  
Vol 85 (6) ◽  
pp. 1013-1019 ◽  
Author(s):  
William M. Mendenhall ◽  
William A. Friedman ◽  
John M. Buatti ◽  
Francis J. Bova

✓ In this paper the authors evaluate the results of linear accelerator (LINAC)—based stereotactic radiosurgery for acoustic schwannomas. Fifty-six patients underwent LINAC-based stereotactic radiosurgery for acoustic schwannomas at the University of Florida between July 1988 and November 1994. Each patient was followed for a minimum of 1 year or until death; no patient was lost to follow up. One or more follow-up magnetic resonance images or computerized tomography scans were obtained in 52 of the 56 patients. Doses ranged between 10 and 22.5 Gy with 69.6% of patients receiving 12.5 to 15 Gy. Thirty-eight patients (68%) were treated with one isocenter and the dose was specified to the 80% isodose line in 71% of patients. Fifty-five patients (98%) achieved local control after treatment. The 5-year actuarial local control rate was 95%. At the time of analysis, 48 patients were alive and free of disease, seven had died of intercurrent disease, and one was alive with disease. Complications developed in 13 patients (23%). The likelihood of complications was related to the dose and treatment volume: 10 to 12.5 Gy to all volumes, three (13%) of 23 patients; 15 to 17.5 Gy to 5.5 cm3 or less, two (9%) of 23 patients; 15 to 17.5 Gy to more than 5.5 cm3, five (71%) of seven patients; and 20 to 22.5 Gy to all volumes, three (100%) of three patients. Linear accelerator—based stereotactic radiosurgery results in a high rate of local control at 5 years. The risk of complications is related to the dose and treatment volume.


2008 ◽  
Vol 87 (11) ◽  
pp. 634-643 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian D. Lawenda ◽  
Michelle G. Arnold ◽  
Valerie A. Tokarz ◽  
Joshua R. Silverstein ◽  
Paul M. Busse ◽  
...  

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive epidermal cancer. We conducted a retrospective study and literature review to investigate the impact that radiation therapy has on local, regional, and distant control as part of the oncologic management of MCC of the head and neck and to further elucidate the role of radiation therapy with regard to regional control for the clinically uninvolved neck. We reviewed all registered cases of head and neck MCC that had occurred at four institutions from January 1988 through December 2005. Treatment and outcomes data were collected on patients with American Joint Committee on Cancer stage I, II, and III tumors. Local, regional, and distant control rates were calculated by comparing variables with the Fisher exact test; Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to report actuarial control data. Stage I to III head and neck MCC was identified in 36 patients— 22 men and 14 women, aged 43 to 97 years (mean: 71.6) at diagnosis. Patients with stage I and II tumors were combined into one group, and their data were compared with those of patients with stage III tumors. Twenty-sixpatients(72%) had clinical stage I/II disease and 10 patients (28%) had clinical stage III disease. Median follow-up was 41 months for the stage I/II group and 19 months for the stage III group. Based on examination at final follow-up visits, local recurrence was seen in 7 of the 36 patients (19%), for a local control rate of 81 %. The 2-year actuarial local control rate for all stages of MCC was 83%; by treatment subgroup, the rates were 95% for those who had undergone radiation therapy to the primary site and 69%) for those who had not— a statistically significant difference(p = 0.020). Based on information obtained at final follow-ups, 10 of the 36 patients (28%) experienced a regional recurrence, for a regional control rate of 72%. The 2-year actuarial regional control rate among all patients was 70%; by subgroup, rates were 82%) for patients who had undergone regional node radiation therapy and 60% for those who had not— not a statistically significant difference (p = 0.225). Nine patients (25%) overall developed a distant metastasis, for a distant control rate of 75%. Salvage therapies included chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy to the metastatic site, but neither had any significant effect on survival. Regardless of treatment, the Kaplan-Meier survival curves leveled off at 30 months with 82% survival for the stage I/II group and at 19 months with 60% survival for the stage III group. We conclude that radiation therapy to the primary tumor site (either following resection or definitively) results in a local control rate of more than 90% in patients with head and neck MCC. We also found a trend toward improved regional control of the clinically negative neck with the addition of radiation therapy.


1993 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
pp. 399-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. L. Eddy ◽  
J. M. Jenrette ◽  
W. T. Creasman

A retrospective analysis of 73 patients treated for primary vaginal carcinoma with radiation therapy was performed to evaluate the effect of radiotherapeutic technique on local control. Local control was achieved in five of 22 patients (23%) treated with pelvic external beam therapy alone, three of four patients (75%) treated with intracavitary cylinder or Bloedorn applicator alone, and 30 of 47 patients (64%) treated with combination of external beam and brachytherapy. Radiation therapy complications requiring hospitalization occurred in six patients (8%). A statistically significant difference in local control was achieved only when patients receiving external beam and brachytherapy were compared with patients receiving external beam therapy alone (P< 0.005). Total mid-tumor dose was defined as the sum of midplane tumor dose from external beam therapy, mid-tumor dose from interstitial radium needles, and the vaginal surface dose from intracavitary radium systems. Total mid-tumor doses ranged from 16 to 121.7 Gy. Only two of 16 patients receiving less than 55 Gy total mid-tumor dose achieved local control. As a result, dividing doses of 45, 55, 65 and 75 Gy produced a statistically significant superior local control rate in the patients receiving the higher dose (P< 0.01). None of the 16 patients receiving less than 55 Gy total mid-tumor dose had received brachytherapy. We conclude that the combination of external beam therapy and brachytherapy is essential to achieve optimal control of primary vaginal carcinoma.


1998 ◽  
Vol 89 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey H. Wisoff ◽  
James M. Boyett ◽  
Mitchel S. Berger ◽  
Catherine Brant ◽  
Hao Li ◽  
...  

Object. One hundred seventy-two children with high-grade astrocytomas were treated by members of the Children's Cancer Group in a prospective randomized trial designed to evaluate the role of two chemotherapy regimens. Seventy-six percent of the patients (131 children) in whom a diagnosis of either anaplastic astrocytoma or glioblastoma multiforme was confirmed by central pathological review are the subject of this report. Methods. Patients were stratified according to the extent of tumor resection (biopsy [< 10%], partial resection [10–50%], subtotal resection [51–90%], near-total resection [> 90%], and total resection) as determined by surgical observation and postoperative computerized tomography scanning. Information on contemporary neurosurgical management was obtained from the patient's operative records and standardized neurosurgical report forms. The vast majority of tumors were supratentorial: 63% (83 tumors) in the superficial cerebral hemisphere, 28% (37 tumors) in the deep or midline cerebrum, and only 8% (11 tumors) in the posterior fossa. A significant association was detected between the primary tumor site and the extent of resection (p < 0.0001). A radical resection (> 90%) was performed in 37% of the children: 49% of the tumors in the superficial hemisphere and 45% of tumors in the posterior fossa compared with 8% of midline tumors. Tumor location could also be used to predict the need for both temporary and permanent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion. Half of the deep tumors and 8% of the hemispheric astrocytomas ultimately required a permanent CSF shunt. Improvement in preoperative neurological deficits and level of consciousness was seen in 36% and 34% of the children, respectively. New or increased deficits were present in 14% of the children, with 6% experiencing a diminished sensorium after surgery. Postoperative nonneurological complications were rare: infection, hematoma, and CSF fistula each occurred in 1.7% of the children. Univariate and multivariate analyses demonstrated that radical tumor resection (> 90%) was the only therapeutic variable that significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) rates. For all patients with malignant astrocytomas, the distributions of PFS rates were significantly different (p = 0.006) following radical resection compared with less extensive (< 90%) resection. The 5-year PFS rates were 35 ± 7% and 17 ± 4%, respectively. The differences in the distribution of PFS rate were significant for the subsets of patients with anaplastic astrocytoma (p = 0.055) and glioblastoma multiforme (p = 0.046). The 5-year PFS rates for anaplastic astrocytoma were 44 ± 11% and 22 ± 6% for cases in which the tumor was radically resected and less than radically resected, respectively; whereas the 5-year PFS rates for glioblastoma multiforme were 26 ± 9% and 4 ± 3% for cases in which the tumor was radically resected and less than radically resected, respectively. Conclusions. The demonstration of a survival advantage provided by radical resection should prompt neurosurgeons to treat malignant pediatric astrocytomas with aggressive surgical resection prior to initiation of radiotherapy or adjuvant chemotherapy.


1998 ◽  
Vol 89 (6) ◽  
pp. 949-955 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce E. Pollock ◽  
L. Dade Lunsford ◽  
Douglas Kondziolka ◽  
Raymond Sekula ◽  
Brian R. Subach ◽  
...  

Object. The indications, operative findings, and outcomes of vestibular schwannoma microsurgery are controversial when it is performed after stereotactic radiosurgery. To address these issues, the authors reviewed the experience at two academic medical centers. Methods. During a 10-year interval, 452 patients with unilateral vestibular schwannomas underwent gamma knife radiosurgery. Thirteen patients (2.9%) underwent delayed microsurgery at a median of 27 months (range 7–72 months) after they had undergone radiosurgery. Six of the 13 patients had undergone one or more microsurgical procedures before they underwent radiosurgery. The indications for surgery were tumor enlargement with stable symptoms in five patients, tumor enlargement with new or increased symptoms in five patients, and increased symptoms without evidence of tumor growth in three patients. Gross-total resection was achieved in seven patients and near-gross-total resection in four patients. The surgery was described as more difficult than that typically performed for schwannoma in eight patients, no different in four patients, and easier in one patient. At the last follow-up evaluation, three patients had normal or near-normal facial function, three patients had moderate facial dysfunction, and seven had facial palsies. Three patients were incapable of caring for themselves, and one patient died of progression of a malignant triton tumor. Conclusions. Failed radiosurgery in cases of vestibular schwannoma was rare. No clear relationship was demonstrated between the use of radiosurgery and the subsequent ease or difficulty of delayed microsurgery. Because some patients have temporary enlargement of their tumor after radiosurgery, the need for surgical resection after radiosurgery should be reviewed with the neurosurgeon who performed the radiosurgery and should be delayed until sustained tumor growth is confirmed. A subtotal tumor resection should be considered for patients who require surgical resection of their tumor after vestibular schwannoma radiosurgery.


1997 ◽  
Vol 86 (4) ◽  
pp. 629-632 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hideharu Karasawa ◽  
Hajime Furuya ◽  
Hiromichi Naito ◽  
Ken Sugiyama ◽  
Junji Ueno ◽  
...  

✓ This is the first known report of the use of computerized tomography (CT) scanning to examine acute hydrocephalus in posterior fossa injury. Of the 1802 patients with acute head trauma treated at Funabashi Municipal Medical Center, 53 (2.9%) had suffered injury to the posterior fossa. Of these, 12 patients (22.6%) had associated acute hydrocephalus: nine patients with acute epidural hematoma (AEH) and three with intracerebellar hematoma and contusion (IH/C). There was a significant relationship between cases of AEH with hydrocephalus and supratentorial extension, hematoma thickness of 15 mm or more, and abnormal mesencephalic cisterns. In cases of IH/C, bilateral lesions and no visible fourth ventricle were significant causes of hydrocephalus. According to these results, possible mechanisms of acute hydrocephalus in posterior fossa injury may be as follows: in cases of AEH, hematoma that extends to the supratentorial area compresses the aqueduct posteriorly and causes hydrocephalus; in cases of IH/C, hematoma and contusional lesions may directly occlude the fourth ventricle and cause acute hydrocephalus. Seven patients suffering from AEH with acute hydrocephalus underwent evacuation of their hematoma without external ventricular drainage. In these cases, CT scanning showed that the hydrocephalus improved immediately after evacuation of the hematoma. Two patients suffering from IH/C with hydrocephalus underwent a procedure for evacuation of the hematoma and external ventricular drainage. The authors do not believe that ventricular drainage is necessary in treating posterior fossa AEH. However, both evacuation of the hematoma and ventricular drainage are necessary in cases of IH/C with hydrocephalus to provide the patient with every chance for survival. There was no significant difference in mortality rates when cases of AEH with acute hydrocephalus (0%) were compared with cases of AEH without hydrocephalus (7.7%). The observed mortality rates in cases of IH/C with hydrocephalus and those without hydrocephalus were 100% and 15.4%, respectively; this is statistically significant.


1999 ◽  
Vol 91 (4) ◽  
pp. 563-568 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chuan-Fu Huang ◽  
Douglas Kondziolka ◽  
John C. Flickinger ◽  
L. Dade Lunsford

Object. Brainstem metastases portend a dismal prognosis. Surgical resection is not part of routine management and radiation therapy has offered little clinical benefit. Radiosurgery provides a safe and effective treatment for many patients with brain metastasis, but its role in the brainstem has not been evaluated. In this study the authors examine the role of radiosurgery in the treatment of brainstem metastases.Methods. The authors reviewed the outcomes after stereotactic radiosurgery in 26 patients with 27 brainstem metastases. Tumor locations included the pons (21 tumors) and midbrain (six tumors); 14 patients had additional tumors in other locations. Twenty patients presented with brainstem signs. The median dose to the tumor margin was 16 Gy (range 12–20 Gy). Twenty-four patients received fractionated whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT) and 12 underwent additional chemotherapy or immunotherapy. The median follow-up time in these patients was 9.5 months (range 1–43 months).After radiosurgery, the local control rate in brainstem tumors was 95%. In one patient in whom the tumor initially decreased in size, tumor enlargement was seen 7 months later. The median survival time was 11 months after diagnosis and 9 months after radiosurgery. Thirteen patients improved, 10 were stable, and three deteriorated. Eventually, 22 patients died, 18 of progression of their extracranial disease, three of new tumor growth (including one hemorrhage into a new brain metastasis), and one of extracranial disease plus new brain tumor growth.Conclusions. Although they have slightly lower than the expected survival rates of patients with nonbrainstem tumors, patients with brainstem metastases may achieve effective palliation after stereotactic radiosurgery and WBRT.


2003 ◽  
Vol 98 (6) ◽  
pp. 1165-1169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meic H. Schmidt ◽  
Mitchel S. Berger ◽  
Kathleen R. Lamborn ◽  
Ken Aldape ◽  
Michael W. McDermott ◽  
...  

Object. Progression of infiltrative low-grade gliomas (LGGs) has been reported previously. The limitations of such studies include diverse histological grading systems, intervening therapy, and the lack of histological confirmation of malignant tumor progression. The aim of this study was to determine tumor progression in adult patients with an initial diagnosis of infiltrative LGG who subsequently underwent a repeated operation, but no other intervening therapy. The authors examined factors that may be associated with tumor progression. Methods. The authors retrospectively reviewed a database of 300 patients with the initial diagnosis of LGG and who had been treated at their institution between 1990 and 2000. One hundred four of these patients had undergone a second surgery. Patients with infiltrative LGGs who had undergone two surgical procedures at least 3 months apart without intervening therapy were selected; the authors identified 40 patients who fit these criteria. Clinical, neuroimaging, and pathological data were centrally reviewed. There were 29 men and 11 women in the study, whose median age was 35.5 years (range 23–48 years). At the time of the second surgery, 50% of patients had experienced tumor progression. Patients whose tumors had progressed had a longer median time to repeated operation (49 compared with 22.5 months). Patients who had undergone gross-total resection, as demonstrated on postoperative magnetic resonance images, had a median time to repeated operation of 49 compared with 25 and 24 months in patients who underwent subtotal resection and biopsy, respectively (p = 0.02). The extent of resection did not influence the likelihood of tumor progression (p > 0.3). Conclusions. Fifty percent of patients with initially diagnosed infiltrative LGGs had tumor progression at the time of a repeated operation. A gross-total resection was associated with an increased time to repeated surgery. There was no statistically significant effect of gross-total resection as a predictor of tumor progression.


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