title: Initial clinical results of stereotactic radiotherapy for the treatment of craniopharyngiomas.
abstract: The efficacy and toxicity of stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) for the treatment of craniopharyngioma has been retrospectively evaluated in 16 patients. The median tumor diameter was 2.8 cm (range 1.5-6.1) and the median tumor volume was 7.7 cc (range 0.7-62.8). SRT was delivered to a single isocenter using a dedicated 6 MV linear accelerator to patients immobilized with a relocatable stereotactic head frame. The three-year actuarial overall survival was 93% and the rate of survival free of any imaging evidence of progressive disease was 75%. The three-year actuarial survival rates free of solid tumor growth or cyst enlargement were 94% and 81% respectively. Our results suggest that SRT is a safe and effective treatment approach for patients with craniopharyngioma. Long-term follow-up is required to determine whether the normal tissue-sparing inherent with SRT results in reduction of the neurocognitive effects of conventional radiotherapy for craniopharyngioma. SRT can be delivered to craniopharyngioma that may be difficult to treat with stereotactic radiosurgery due to proximity of the optic chiasm. Further clinical experience is necessary to determine the clinical utility of beam shaping in the setting of SRT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles CA 90095, USA. selch@radonc.ucla.edu
authors.forename: Michael T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Selch
authors.forename: Antonio A  F
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: DeSalles
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wade
authors.forename: Steve P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Timothy D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Solberg
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.forename: Judith M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rubino
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cabatan-Awang
authors.forename: H Rodney
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Withers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003397:Craniopharyngioma / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D016634:Radiosurgery / Q000379:methods*; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome