title: Hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy for intracranial meningiomas: preliminary results of a feasible trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy is an alternative to radiosurgery or conformal radiotherapy when meningiomas are surgically inaccessible, incompletely removed, or recurrent. The authors report preliminary results of a feasible trial on hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (hFSRT) in patients (pts) with intracranial meningiomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  From August 2003 to May 2007, 35 consecutive pts with a median age of 59 years (range, 23-86) underwent hFSRT for intracranial meningiomas. Male/female ratio was 9/26, median Karnofsky performance status was 90 (range, 60-100). In 14 lesions (40%) diagnosis was based upon clinical and radiological data. After surgery or biopsy, 19 pts had histologically proven World Health Organization grade I and 2 pts grade II meningiomas. The median treatment volume was 23 cc (range, 4-58 cc). Before hFSRT, 26 (74%) pts had neurologic symptoms. Nineteen (54%) pts received 42 Gy and 16 (46%) 45 Gy of total dose, 3 Gy/fraction, 5 fractions/week.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median follow-up was 29 months (range, 10-51) and 22 (63%) pts had a follow-up 24 months. Treatment was well tolerated and we did not observe clinically significant acute and late toxicity. At instrumental control, 32 (91%) lesions remained stable, 2 (6%) decreased and 1 (3%) progressed in size. Median duration of local control was 24 months (range, 4-47), and median progression free survival 23 months (range, 4-47). Clinical improvement of pre-existing neurological symptoms was observed in 84% of cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These preliminary data suggest that hFSRT is a safe and effective treatment modality for intracranial meningiomas.
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology Centre, ''S. Maria'' Hospital, Terni, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Trippa
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maranzano
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Costantini
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giorni