Long-term follow-up confirms the efficacy of linac radiosurgery for acoustic neuroma and meningioma patients. A single institution's experience.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the long-term efficacy and toxicity in a group of consecutive patients treated with linear accelerator (linac) radiosurgery for acoustic neuromas and meningiomas.


METHODS
Between 2000 and 2004, 34 patients (median age 65.5 years, range 50-84) with acoustic neuroma or meningioma were treated with linac-based stereotactic radiosurgery with a surface dose of 11-15.5 Gy. The maximum lesion diameter ranged from 10 to 34 mm. Median tumor volume was 5.95cm(3). The follow-up consisted of repeated imaging studies and clinical examination in the first 6 and 12 months after the intervention and yearly thereafter.


RESULTS
Follow-up time ranged from 50 to 99 months (median 75). Nineteen (59%) tumors decreased in size and 13 (41%) remained stable. None of the tumors increased in size in the long-term follow-up, resulting in an overall growth control of 100% for the small number of patients of our study. No patient developed new permanent facial or trigeminal neuropathy or deterioration of preexisting symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
Long-term follow-up confirms the efficacy and low toxicity of linac radiosurgery for neuroma and meningioma patients.
Kalogeridi
M A
MA
Radiotherapy Unit, Medical School, National University of Athens, Athens, Greece. ma_kalogeridi@yahoo.com
Georgolopoulou
P
P
Kouloulias
V
V
Kouvaris
J
J
Pissakas
G
G
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008579:Meningioma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009464:Neuroma, Acoustic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010315:Particle Accelerators; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D016634:Radiosurgery / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D047368:Tumor Burden