title: Radiosurgery as alternative treatment for skull base meningiomas.
abstract: The effect of radiosurgical treatment of skull base meningiomas in 197 patients with a follow-up of at least 2 years was evaluated. Ninety-two of these patients had combined surgical and radiosurgical treatment, while Gamma Knife Radiosurgery (GKRS) was performed as primary treatment in 105 patients. Follow-up was available in 164 patients with intervals of 25-97 months (median 55 months) after GKRS. The imaging controls revealed decreased tumour size in 84 patients (51%), stable tumour volume in 76 ca ses (47%) and increased tumour size in 4 cases (2%). Neurological examinations showed improved neurological status in 58 cases (35%), stable clinical status in 100 patients (61%) and slight worsening in 6 cases (4%). Due to excellent tumour control rate, good clinical outcome and a low complication rate GKRS represents not only an attractive additional treatment option for basal meningiomas, but may even replace microsurgery in selected cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Medical School and University, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pendl
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eustacchio
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Unger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D003399:Craniotomy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008579:Meningioma / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000601:surgery; D016634:Radiosurgery; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019292:Skull Base Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome