Abstract
BACKGROUND.
Little is known about long‐term results of gamma knife (GK) stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) as a primary or a secondary postoperative therapy for central neurocytomas (CNs). The authors retrospectively reviewed long‐term outcomes of 13 patients with CN treated with GK SRS.
METHODS.
Thirteen patients were treated with GK SRS as a primary (6 patients) or a secondary postoperative therapy (7 patients). Follow‐up clinical status and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were thoroughly analyzed. The functional status of patients was assessed with the Karnofsky Performance Scale during follow‐up.
RESULTS.
The median follow‐up period for clinical status and imaging studies was 61 months (range, 6 months to 96 months). Tumors decreased in 5 patients who received GK SRS as a primary treatment. However, the tumor recurred in 2 patients treated with a secondary GK SRS after surgery from the residual tumor bed that was not covered by the GK SRS. Parenchymal changes and secondary malignancies were not found in follow‐up MRIs of all 13 patients. The Karnofsky Performance Scale score of all patients, except for 1 patient who suffered from an unrelated anteriorly communicating arterial aneurysmal rupture, did not change after GK SRS.
CONCLUSIONS.
GK SRS may be useful as a primary or a secondary postoperative therapy for the treatment of CN. However, more attention should be paid to residual or recurrent CN during treatment, and regular long‐term follow‐up MRI should be mandatory to validate the procedure. Cancer 2007 © 2007 American Cancer Society.