Adjuvant stereotactic radiosurgery for anaplastic ependymoma

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Radiation Oncology
• Oncology

Background:

• Malignant ependymomas are aggressive brain tumors requiring multimodal treatment.
• Adjuvant therapies are crucial for managing recurrent or progressive disease.
• Stereotactic radiosurgery offers a focused treatment approach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery as an adjuvant therapy for malignant ependymomas.
• To assess the efficacy of radiosurgery in terms of tumor control and overall survival.
• To determine the safety and effectiveness of this treatment modality.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 22 patients (1.5-65 years) with anaplastic ependymoma treated between 1987-1998.
• Treatment involved Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery with doses ranging from 10-40 Gy.
• Efficacy assessed via disease-free survival, tumor control, and overall survival rates.

Main Results:

• 68% of patients showed tumor reduction or stabilization.
• Median survival after radiosurgery was 2.2 years; 5-year actuarial survival was 46.6%.
• 5-year actuarial rates for local and cranial control were 62.3% and 32.4%, respectively; no complications reported.

Conclusions:

• Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery is a safe and effective salvage therapy for recurrent/progressive malignant ependymomas.
• It achieves local tumor control and contributes to improved survival outcomes.
• This modality represents a valuable option in the multimodal treatment of these challenging tumors.