title: Endocrine and visual function after fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy of perioptic tumors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To find out whether the use of stereotactic techniques for fractionated radiotherapy reduces toxicity to the endocrine and visual system in patients with benign perioptic tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 1993 to 2009, 29 patients were treated with fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy. The most frequent tumor types were grade I meningioma (n = 11) and pituitary adenoma (n = 10, 7 nonfunctioning, 3 growth hormone-producing). Patients were immobilized with the GTC frame (Radionics, USA) and the planning target volume (PTV; median 24.7, 4.6-58.6 ml) was irradiated with a total dose of 52.2 Gy (range, 45.0-55.8 Gy) in 1.8-Gy fractions using a linear accelerator (6 MeV photons) equipped with a micro-multileaf collimator. Maximum doses to the optic system and pituitary gland were 53.4 Gy (range, 11.5-57.6 Gy) and 53.6 Gy (range, 12.0-57.9 Gy).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median follow-up was 45 months (range, 10-105 months). Local control was achieved in all but 1 patient (actuarial rate 92% at 5 years and 10 years). In 9 of 29 patients (31%), partial remission was observed (actuarial response rate 40% at 5 years and 10 years). In 4 of 26 patients (15%) with at least partial pituitary function, new hormonal deficits developed (actuarial rate 21% at 5 years and 10 years). This rate was significantly higher in patients treated for a larger PTV (< /> 25 ml: 0% vs. 42% at 5 years and 10 years, p = 0.028). Visual function improved in 4 of 15 patients (27%) who had prior impairment. None of the patients developed treatment-related optic neuropathy, but 2 patients experienced new disease-related visual deficits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy for benign tumors of the perioptic and sellar region results in satisfactory response and local control rates and does not affect the visual system. The assumption that patients can be spared hypophyseal insufficiency only holds for small tumors.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Strahlentherapie, UniKlinik Köln, Cologne, Deutschland. martin.kocher@uk-koeln.de
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kocher
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Treuer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoevels
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Semrau
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sturm
authors.forename: R-P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Mueller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D004700:Endocrine System Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005134:Eye Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016634:Radiosurgery / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D055815:Young Adult