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Radiosurgery of meningiomas
1Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania.
Neurosurgery Clinics of North America
|January 1, 1992
Summary
Radiosurgery is a safe and effective treatment for symptomatic meningiomas, especially when surgery fails or is not an option. Long-term outcomes and optimal dosing require further study.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Radiation Oncology
- Oncology
Background:
- Meningiomas are tumors that grow on the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.
- Symptomatic meningiomas often require treatment, with surgery being the traditional approach.
- Radiosurgery presents an alternative or adjunct therapy for specific patient populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the early safety and efficacy of radiosurgery for symptomatic meningiomas.
- To assess radiosurgery as a primary treatment for patients unsuitable for microsurgery.
- To identify areas for future research regarding radiosurgery for meningiomas.
Main Methods:
- Review of early clinical experience with radiosurgery in patients with symptomatic meningiomas.
- Comparison of radiosurgery outcomes in patients with prior surgical failure versus those treated primarily.
- Identification of patient subgroups benefiting from radiosurgery due to age, medical condition, or tumor location.
Main Results:
- Radiosurgery demonstrated early safety and effectiveness in selected symptomatic meningioma patients.
- It served as a viable primary treatment option for patients unable to undergo microsurgery.
- The study highlights the need for long-term outcome data.
Conclusions:
- Early results suggest radiosurgery is a valuable therapeutic option for symptomatic meningiomas.
- Further research is essential to establish optimal radiosurgical doses and understand radiation tolerance of surrounding brain structures.
- Long-term efficacy and safety data are pending.