title: Gamma Knife radiosurgery for hemangioma of the cavernous sinus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE Cavernous sinus hemangiomas (CSHs) are rare vascular tumors. A direct microsurgical approach usually results in massive hemorrhage and incomplete tumor resection. Although stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) has emerged as a therapeutic alternative to microsurgery, outcome studies are few. Authors of the present study evaluated the role of SRS for CSH. METHODS An international multicenter study was conducted to review outcome data in 31 patients with CSH. Eleven patients had initial microsurgery before SRS, and the other 20 patients (64.5%) underwent Gamma Knife SRS as the primary management for their CSH. Median age at the time of radiosurgery was 47 years, and 77.4% of patients had cranial nerve dysfunction before SRS. Patients received a median tumor margin dose of 12.6 Gy (range 12-19 Gy) at a median isodose of 55%. RESULTS Tumor regression was confirmed by imaging in all 31 patients, and all patients had greater than 50% reduction in tumor volume at 6 months post-SRS. No patient had delayed tumor growth, new cranial neuropathy, visual function deterioration, adverse radiation effects, or hypopituitarism after SRS. Twenty-four patients had presented with cranial nerve disorders before SRS, and 6 (25%) of them had gradual improvement. Four (66.7%) of the 6 patients with orbital symptoms had symptomatic relief at the last follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Stereotactic radiosurgery was effective in reducing the volume of CSH and attaining long-term tumor control in all patients at a median of 40 months. The authors' experience suggests that SRS is a reasonable primary and adjuvant treatment modality for patients in whom a CSH is diagnosed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital.|School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.|Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia.
authors.forename: Cheng-Chia
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia.
authors.forename: Jason P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Sheehan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and.
authors.forename: Hideyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kano
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and.
authors.forename: Berkcan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Akpinar
authors.affiliation: Unit of Radiosurgery, Ruber International Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martinez-Alvarez
authors.affiliation: Unit of Radiosurgery, Ruber International Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Martinez-Moreno
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital.|School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wan-Yuo
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Unit of Radiosurgery, Ruber International Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: L Dade
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Lunsford
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital.|School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Kang-Du
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002426:Cavernous Sinus; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D020786:Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D016634:Radiosurgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: CS = cavernous sinus; CSF = cerebrospinal fluid; CSH = cavernous sinus hemangioma; GKRS = Gamma Knife radiosurgery; Gamma Knife; ICA = internal carotid artery; IGKRF = International Gamma Knife Research Foundation; T1+c = T1-weighted MRI with contrast; cavernous sinus hemangioma; stereotactic radiosurgery