Radiotherapy for craniopharyngioma in children: a national audit

A survey of current radiotherapy practices in the United Kingdom for treatment of craniopharyngioma in children was undertaken in view of the need to optimize control and minimize side effects in a patient group who can expect to survive for prolonged periods after treatment. Useable replies were received from 16 practitioners. A high level of conformity was reported in some areas but practice varied considerably in others. Thus whereas 15 employed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) alone or with computed tomography (CT) to establish the gross tumour volume (GTV), six exclusively used pre-operative and seven exclusively used post-operative studies. Twelve added a margin of 1 cm to establish the planning target volume (PTV). Nine used CT planning. Fourteen gave radiation doses of between 50 and 55 Gy, but eight different dose/fractionation combinations were used. The most favoured regime (used by six) was 50 Gy in 30 fractions. Two centres provided written information on possible side effects of treatment. We suggest that it might prove helpful if a national treatment protocol was developed.