Stereotactic radiosurgery for recurrent gliomas

Abstract

Background: The treatment of recurrent gliomas is palliative; however, the local pattern of tumor recurrence permits retreatment with single fraction, high dose stereotactic radiotherapy or radiosurgery (RS).

Methods: Twenty patients (median Karnofsky performance status, 80), aged 8-62 years with recurrent gliomas, were treated with RS after failing adjuvant therapy. Tumor histologies included glioblastoma multiforme (5), anaplastic astrocytoma (10), fibrillary astrocytoma (4), and primitive neuroectodermal tumor (1). Tumor volumes ranged from 3-53.5 cc, with a median of 17 cc.

Results: Seven early and one late radiation complication were seen. All seven early radiation complications were due to raised intracranial pressure and resolved in all but one patient who died. Median follow-up in 19 evaluable patients was 8 months (range, 2-29 months). Fourteen patients died from progressive tumor (median survival, 7 months). Five patients, four with recurrent tumor, were alive (median follow-up, 19 months) with a median time-to-tumor progression of 9 months.

Conclusions: Radiosurgery demonstrates modest efficacy with acceptable toxicity in selected patients with recurrent gliomas and warrants further investigation.