MANAGEMENT OF CYSTIC CRANIOPHARYNGIOMAS WITH STEREOTACTIC ENDOCAVITARY IRRADIATION USING COLLOIDAL 186

OBJECTIVE We retrospectively reviewed the results of stereotactic endocavitary irradiation with colloidal 186Re in the treatment of cystic craniopharyngiomas. METHODS Among 54 consecutive patients included in a 186Re stereotactic endocavitary irradiation procedure, 42 patients (29 male and 13 female; average age, 38.7 years) received therapeutic injection via intracystic catheter introduced under stereotactic conditions. The mean follow-up period was 43 months (range, 8–148 months). Endocavitary irradiation was the primary treatment for 15 patients and an adjuvant treatment for 27 patients. The mean volume before irradiation was 8.07 mm3, and the mean radiation dose was 381 MBq. RESULTS Cystic mean volume after irradiation was 2.6 cm3 (P < 0.001 with initial volume). The retraction of the cyst was complete for 17 patients (44%) and partial for 17 (44%). In partial retraction, cystic volume decreased more than 50% for 12 (3%) patients and less than 25% (13%) for 5. Cystic volume remained the same or increased for 5 (13%) patients. Concerning visual functions, 12 (44.5%) patients improved and 2 worsened, despite tumor control. No endocrinological deterioration occurred. Among 17 patients with preoperative cognitive dysfunction, 10 improved and 6 had no change. One patient showed memory alteration 4 months after stereotactic endocavitary irradiation despite cyst volume reduction. No mortality occurred. CONCLUSION 186Re stereotactic endocavitary irradiation for the treatment of cystic craniopharyngiomas is a safe and effective procedure with a tumor control rate greater than 70%. This treatment can be used for first-intention treatment of pure cystic craniopharyngiomas or for second-intention treatment of cystic recurrences.

Conservative treatment of rectal adenocarcinoma with endocavitary irradiation or wide local excision and postoperative irradiation.

PURPOSE To evaluate the role of endocavitary irradiation and wide local excision followed by irradiation in the treatment of early-stage rectal adenocarcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sixty-five patients with early-stage adenocarcinoma of the rectum were treated with endocavitary irradiation (n = 20) or wide local excision followed by external-beam irradiation (n = 45) between 1974 and 1994 at the University of Florida. All patients were monitored for a minimum of 2 years or until death. RESULTS The rates of local-regional control at 5 years were 80% after endocavitary irradiation and 86% after wide local excision and radiotherapy. The ultimate 5-year local-regional control rates were 85% and 92%, respectively. Multivariate analysis of local-regional control with sphincter preservation showed that tumor configuration (exophytic v ulcerative) significantly influenced this end point; local-regional control was decreased in patients with ulcerated cancers. Five-year cause-specific survival rates were 84% after endocavitary irradiation and 88% after wide local excision and radiotherapy. Multivariate analysis revealed that tumor configuration significantly influenced cause-specific survival; patients with ulcerated tumors had a worse prognosis. CONCLUSION Endocavitary irradiation is a highly effective treatment for properly selected patients with early-stage rectal adenocarcinoma. Patients with less favorable lesions that appear to be limited to the muscularis propria have a high chance of cure with sphincter preservation after wide local excision and external-beam irradiation.