Gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery for low-grade astrocytomas.
Patients with low-grade astrocytoma (LGA; 8 pilocytic astrocytomas, 2 subependymal giant cell astrocytomas, 2 fibrillary astrocytomas) were selected for treatment with gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery (GKSRS) based on having a demarcated appearance on CT or MRI and the possibility of dose sparing of adjacent eloquent structures. A median dose of 13 Gy was prescribed to the 50% isodose line, which covered the gross tumor. The median patient age was 17.4 years. The median target volume was 4.4 cm(3). With a median follow-up of 48.2 months, 4-year tumor control and overall survival were 77 and 83%, respectively. Only 2 patients experienced symptomatic treatment-related toxicity. GKSRS can provide local control in cases of unresectable or recurrent LGA with a low incidence of side effects in carefully selected patients.
Henderson
Mark A
MA
Department of Radiation Oncology, Indiana University Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. mahender@iupui.edu
Fakiris
Achilles J
AJ
Timmerman
Robert D
RD
Worth
Robert M
RM
Lo
Simon S
SS
Witt
Thomas C
TC