title: Radiation therapy for sarcoid of the thalamus/posterior third ventricle: case report.
abstract: There are a limited number of previously reported cases involving the use of radiation therapy for sarcoid of the brain. The case of a 22-year-old man with a thalamic/posterior third ventricle sarcoid mass that grew despite steroid medication is presented. The patient was treated with external beam radiation to a total dose of 20 Gy, with 2-Gy fractions over 14 elapsed days. A complete radiographic response was achieved 4 months after radiation was completed. Radiographic follow-up through 8 months postradiation shows no evidence of disease recurrence. Fractionated radiation therapy in low-to-moderate doses appears to be efficacious in steroid-refractory sarcoid of the brain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, USA.
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Stelzer
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Spence
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Griffin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D016371:Cranial Irradiation; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D013786:Thalamic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D013788:Thalamus / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects