title: Novalis radiosurgery of optic gliomas in children: preliminary report.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of Novalis radiosurgery (RS) in children with optic gliomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four pediatric patients (1 male and 3 female) were treated for optic gliomas with Novalis RS in our institution between February 2002 and July 2002. Their mean age was 12 (range 5-16) years at presentation for Novalis RS. The mean target dose was 44 (range 41-45) Gy, with a mean fractionation dose of 1.58 (range 1.5-1.65) Gy. Follow-up included magnetic resonance imaging and ophthalmologic and endocrine examinations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean follow-up period was 54 (range 50-58) months. During the follow-up period, all patients were alive. Local control of the tumor was obtained in all patients. None of the patients showed clinically relevant morbidity, especially endocrine dysfunction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Novalis RS may be an excellent treatment method for optic gliomas in children. However, long-term follow-up is required for further evaluation of efficacy and potential side effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Ilsan Paik Hospital, College of Medicine, Inje University, Goyang, Korea. hsrkmj@ilsanpaik.ac.kr
authors.forename: Seong Rok
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Sang Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Gi Taek
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Yee
authors.forename: Chan Young
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Moon Jun
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.forename: Dong Joon
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Choong Jin
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Whang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D020339:Optic Nerve Glioma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016634:Radiosurgery / Q000379:methods*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted; D012074:Remission Induction; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome