Gamma knife radiosurgery for tumors involving the cavernous sinus.
OBJECTIVE
To study the features of diagnosis and radiosurgery of tumors involving the cavernous sinus.


METHODS
From December 1994 to the end of 2000, 175 patients with cavernous sinus lesions were treated by Leksell gamma knife (GK) in our Institute. Ninety patients (51.4%) had had open surgery previously. Our experience of treating cavernous sinus tumors by GK was analyzed retrospectively.


RESULTS
A Hundred and forty-four (82.3%) patients were followed from 1 to 84 months (median 32.5 months); total tumor control rate was 94%. Surgery was performed after radiosurgery in 3 patients because of tumor enlargement. Metastatic tumor in the cavernous sinus was highly sensitive to irradiation. These lesions shrunk markedly on MRI 2-3 months after GK surgery. The median survival time was 12.2 months, and patients died of noncavernous sinus lesions.


CONCLUSIONS
With high tumor control rate and few complications, GK surgery could become a main option for small benign or residual tumors involving the cavernous sinus. It is also very useful as part of comprehensive therapy for metastatic tumors in the cavernous sinus.
Liu
A-Li
AL
Gamma Knife Center, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Beijing, People's Republic of China. alilius@public3.bta.net.cn
Wang
Chungcheng
C
Sun
Shibing
S
Wang
Meihua
M
Liu
Peng
P
D000236:Adenoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002426:Cavernous Sinus / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002817:Chordoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006392:Hemangioma, Cavernous / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008579:Meningioma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009463:Neuroma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016634:Radiosurgery; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies