title: Controversy in the management of optic pathway gliomas. 29 patients treated with radiation therapy at Baylor College of Medicine from 1967 through 1987.
abstract: The optic gliomas of 29 patients, including 14 with von Recklinghausen neurofibromatosis (NF-1), were subjected to X-ray therapy. The data indicate a projected 20-year survival rate of 92% for all 29 patients. Moreover, among the NF-1 patients, 86% were stabilized or improved, while among non-NF-1 patients, only 47% stabilized or were improved. Thus, these data suggest that there are differences in the biophysiological behavior of optic nerve gliomas in patients with NF-1, and, as well, that there is a salutary response to radiation treatment as measured by improvement or stabilization of vision, with and without radiologic evidence of concomitant tumor regression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Easley
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Scharf
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Riccardi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003390:Cranial Nerve Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000150:complications / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009456:Neurofibromatosis 1 / Q000150:complications*; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies