[125-I brachytherapy of pineal parenchymal tumours in two patients and review of the literature].
BACKGROUND
Pineal parenchymal tumours make up 0.3% of all brain tumours. Stereotactic biopsy has by now become an indispensable method to detect these tumours and it can be safely performed.


METHODS
Two patients with pineoblastoma were treated with 125I brachytherapy. The MRI and CT images taken 15 and 18 months after irradiation showed significant tumour shrinkage.


RESULTS
Tumour volume was 0.76 cm3 in the control CT image in Case 1, a shrinkage by 73% compared to 2.87 cm3 measured at the time of planning the interstitial irradiation. In Case 2, tumour volume measured on the control MRI examination was 0.29 cm3 as opposed to 1.27 cm3 of original tumour volume, which represents a 77% shrinkage.


CONCLUSIONS
The insertion of isotope seeds was performed at the same time as the biopsy, because thus the knowledge of the histological diagnosis could spare the patients from a second stereotactic intervention. The CT- and image fusion guided 125I stereotactic brachytherapy is a procedure that can be dosimetrically precisely planned and surgically accurately and safely performed.
Julow
Jeno
J
Fovárosi Onkormányzat, Szent János Kórház és Rendelointézet, Idegsebészeti Osztály, Budapest.
Viola
Arpád
A
Major
Tibor
T
Valálik
István
I
Sági
Sarolta
S
Mangel
László
L
Kovács
Rita Beáta
RB
Hável
János
J
Kiss
Tibor
T
D000368:Aged; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000379:methods; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D010870:Pineal Gland; D010871:Pinealoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes