Fractionated proton radiation treatment for pediatric craniopharyngioma: preliminary report.
This retrospective preliminary review evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of fractionated proton radiotherapy in the management of pediatric craniopharyngioma.


METHODS
Sixteen patients, aged 7-34 years, were treated with proton-beam radiation. All had undergone at least one tumor resection. Seven patients underwent repeat resection for recurrence; one had previous x-ray radiotherapy. A daily dose of 1.8 cobalt gray equivalent was used to give a total dose in the range of 50.4-59.4 cobalt gray equivalent.


RESULTS
Local control was achieved in 14 of 15 patients. Twelve of 15 patients survived. There were few acute side effects. Long-term complications included newly diagnosed panhypopituitarism, a cerebrovascular accident from which the patient fully recovered, and an out-of-proton-field meningioma in the single patient who received previous radiotherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Fractionated proton radiotherapy is an effective treatment for children with craniopharyngioma. Longer follow-up is needed to evaluate late complications.
Luu
Quoc T
QT
Department of Radiation Medicine, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, California 92354, USA. qluu@dominion.llumc.edu
Loredo
Lilia N
LN
Archambeau
John O
JO
Yonemoto
Les T
LT
Slater
James M
JM
Slater
Jerry D
JD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003397:Craniopharyngioma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D061766:Proton Therapy; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D020266:Radiotherapy, Conformal / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016879:Salvage Therapy / Q000379:methods; D011522:Protons
D011522:Protons