title: Comparison of conventional external radiotherapy and stereotactic radiotherapy in the treatment of pituitary adenoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the results of pituitary adenoma treated with conventional external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) versus stereotactic radiosurgery and stereotactic radiotherapy (SRS/SRT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Data of patients with pituitary adenoma treated at Radiotherapy and Oncology unit, Ramathibodi Hospital between 1990 from 2003 were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Twenty-two patients were treated with EBRT and 51 patients were treated with SRS/SRT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 5-year overall survival and local control rates were not different between the EBRT and SRS/SRT group (91% vs 100%, p = 0.10; 95% vs 96%, p = 0.33). The 5-year freedom from newly initiated hormonal replacement was 50% in EBRT and 75% in SRS/SRT group (p = 0.38).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At a similar outcome but with lower expense of resources, EBRT should be considered an acceptable radiation technique for patients with pituitary adenoma, especially in developing countries such as Thailand.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. rapptw@mahidol.ac.th
authors.forename: Putipun
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Puataweepong
authors.forename: Mantana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dhanachai
authors.forename: Somjai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dangprasert
authors.forename: Jiraporn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Laothamatas
authors.forename: Veerasak
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Theerapancharoen
authors.forename: Pornpan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yongvithisatid
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D016634:Radiosurgery / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013785:Thailand; D013819:Thermoluminescent Dosimetry; D016896:Treatment Outcome