title: Low-grade astrocytomas: treatment with unconventionally fractionated external beam stereotactic radiation therapy.
abstract: Fourteen patients with nonoperable low-grade astrocytomas were treated with unconventionally fractionated stereotactic radiation therapy. The target volume was defined with computed tomography (CT) performed under stereotactic conditions. The treatment was carried out with a technique producing multiple noncoplanar arc irradiation, with the center of the target volume placed at the isocenter of the linear accelerator. A total dose of 16-50 Gy was administered in either one fraction or two fractions 8 days apart. The concentration of dose within the target volume allowed reduction of dose absorbed by adjacent critical structures of the intact brain. Patients were followed up for 11-48 months. Twelve of 14 patients had a partial or complete response to treatment, as demonstrated by CT. Stereotactic radiation therapy appears to be effective in the control of small radioresistant cerebral neoplasms, without damaging surrounding healthy tissues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, City Hospital, Vicenza, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pozza
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chierego
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Avanzo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marchetti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benedetti
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Casentini
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Danieli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011827:Radiation; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy / Q000379:methods*; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed