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. 2021 Jun 25;8(1):168-178.
doi: 10.14338/IJPT-20-00083. eCollection 2021 Summer.

A Review of Particle Therapy for Skull Base Tumors: Modern Considerations and Future Directions

Eugen B Hug  1 , Maciej Pelak  1 , Steven J Frank  2 , Piero Fossati  1
Affiliations

A Review of Particle Therapy for Skull Base Tumors: Modern Considerations and Future Directions

Eugen B Hug et al. Int J Part Ther. .

Abstract

Skull base tumors constitute one of the established indications for particle therapy, specifically proton therapy. However, a number of prognostic factors, practical clinical management issues, and the emerging role of carbon ion therapy remain subjects of active clinical investigation. This review summarizes these topics, assesses the present status, and reflects on future research directions focusing on the management of chordomas, one of the most aggressive skull base tumors. In addition, the role of particle therapy for benign tumors of the skull base, including pituitary adenoma and acoustic neuroma, is reviewed.

Keywords: carbon ion therapy; chordoma; particle therapy; proton beam therapy; skull base tumors.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: Steven J. Frank, MD, is an associate editor of the International Journal of Particle Therapy. Dr Frank reports grants and personal fees from Hitachi. Outside the submitted work, Dr Frank is a cofounder of C4 Imaging, LLC, for which he reports grants and personal fees, and he reports personal fees from Varian, grants from Eli Lilly, grants from Elekta, other remuneration from Breakthrough Chronic Care, personal fees from Augmenix, and personal fees from the National Comprehensive Cancer Center.

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References

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