Radiotherapy of localised intracranial germinoma: time to sever historical ties?
The optimum management of localised intracranial germinoma remains controversial. Cure rates for this rare CNS tumour, which arises mainly in adolescents, exceed 90% at 10 years, and limitation of treatment-related late morbidity is therefore essential. Craniospinal radiotherapy plus boost is perceived to be the gold-standard treatment, but there have been suggestions that reduced-volume radiotherapy could be adequate for cure. We reviewed publications since 1988 to compare patterns of disease relapse and cure rates after craniospinal radiotherapy, reduced-volume irradiation alone (i.e., whole-brain or whole-ventricular irradiation followed by a boost), and focal or localised irradiation alone. The recurrence rate after whole-brain or whole-ventricular radiotherapy plus boost was 7.6% compared with 3.8% after craniospinal radiotherapy, with no predilection for isolated spinal relapses (2.9% vs 1.2%). We challenge the consensus that craniospinal radiotherapy is the best treatment for localised germinomas and conclude that reduced-volume radiotherapy plus boost should replace craniospinal radiotherapy when a radiotherapy-only approach is used.
Department of Neuro-Oncology and Paediatric Oncology, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Downs Road, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5PT, UK.
S J
SJ
Rogers
M A
MA
Mosleh-Shirazi
F H
FH
Saran
D000293:Adolescent; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D016371:Cranial Irradiation / Q000009:adverse effects; D018237:Germinoma / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D013131:Spine / Q000528:radiation effects