title: Re-irradiation for Recurrent Primary Brain Tumors.
abstract: Historically, radiation oncologists have been cautious about re-irradiating brain tumors because of concerns about the risks of late central nervous system (CNS) toxicity, especially radionecrosis, that may occur several months to years following treatment. Today there are still limited prospective data addressing this approach.
  
  
  
  Systematic review of published trials reporting clinical results after re-irradiation of patients with different types of brain tumors was performed.
  
  
  
  Data mainly related to glioblastoma, anaplastic glioma, medulloblastoma, ependymoma and meningioma have been published. Randomized studies are scarce. As in first-line scenarios, efficacy of radiotherapy is influenced by histology. Based on the reported outcomes, preliminary recommendations for dose/fractionation regimens can be given.
  
  
  
  Re-irradiation of brain tumors is increasingly considered as our understanding of brain tolerance to radiation evolves and developments in radiation technology and imaging make highly accurate targeting of recurrent tumors possible. With developments in systemic therapy, further exploration of the role of re-irradiation on its own or in combination with novel agents is needed.
authors: Department of Oncology and Palliative Medicine, Nordland Hospital, Bodø, Norway carsten.nieder@nlsh.no.|Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
authors: Carsten
authors: C
authors: Nieder
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Nicolaus H
authors: NH
authors: Andratschke
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors: Anca L
authors: AL
authors: Grosu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001918:Brachytherapy; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000528:radiation effects; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005910:Glioma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D008579:Meningioma / Q000532:radiotherapy; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011832:Radiation Injuries; D000069475:Re-Irradiation
keywords: Brain tumor; glioblastoma; glioma; radiotherapy; re-irradiation; review; salvage treatment