J Korean Soc Ther Radiol Oncol.  1998 Jun;16(2):185-194.

Fractionated Stereotactic Radiation Therapy for Intracranial Benign Tumor: Preliminary Results of Clinical Application

• Kim DY
• Ahn YC
• Huh SJ
• Choi DR
• Kim JH
• Lee JI
• Park K
• Nam DH
• Kim MK

Abstract

PURPOSE: With the development of stereotactic immobilization systems capable of reliable serial repositioning, fractionated stereotactic radiation therapy (FSRT) offers the potential for an improved treatment outcome by excellent dose delivery, and dose distribution characteristics with the favorable radiobiological properties of fractionated irradiation. We describe our initial experience using FSRT for the treatment of intracranial benign tumor.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Between August 1995 and December 1996, 15 patients (7 males and 8 females aged 6-70 years) were treated with FSRT. The patients had the following diagnosis : pituitary adenoma (10) including one patient who previously had received radiotherapy, craniopharyngioma (2), acoustic neurinoma (1), meningioma (2). Using the Gill-Thomas-Cosman relocatable head frame and multiple non-coplanar therapy, the daily dose of 2Gy was irradiated at 90% to 100% isodose surface of the isocenter. The collimator sizes ranged from 26mm to 70mm.
RESULTS
In all patients except one follow-up lost, disease was well- controlled. Acute complication was negligible and no patient experienced cranial nerve neuropathies and radiation necrosis. In overall patient setup with scalp measurements, reproducibility was found to have mean of 1.1+/-0.6mm from the baseline reading.
CONCLUSION
Relocatable stereotactic system for FSRT is highly reproducible and comfortable. Although the follow-up period was relatively short, FSRT is considered to be a safe and effective radiation technique as the treatment of intracranial tumor. But the fractionation schedule (fraction size, overall treatment time and total dose) still remains to be solved by further clinical trials.

Keyword

Fractionated stereotactic radiation therapy; Relocatable head frame; Intracranial tumor

MeSH Terms

Adenoma
Appointments and Schedules
Cranial Nerves
Craniopharyngioma
Diagnosis
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Head
Humans
Immobilization
Male
Meningioma
Necrosis
Neuroma, Acoustic
Pituitary Neoplasms
Radiotherapy
Scalp
Treatment Outcome