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Gamma knife surgery for neurocytoma
Chun Po Yen1, Jason Sheehan, Greg Patterson
1Lars Leksell Center for Gamma Surgery, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA.
Journal of Neurosurgery
|July 21, 2007
Summary
Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) offers a minimally invasive option for managing neurocytomas, with significant tumor shrinkage or disappearance observed in most cases. However, long-term monitoring is crucial due to potential recurrence.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Radiation Oncology
- Oncology
Background:
- Neurocytomas, though benign, exhibit diverse behaviors requiring tailored management.
- Microsurgery, fractionated radiotherapy, and radiosurgery are established treatment modalities.
- Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) presents a radiosurgical approach for neurocytoma treatment.
Observation:
- Seven patients with nine neurocytomas were treated with GKS between 1989 and 2004.
- Tumors included recurrent, progressing, and biopsy-only cases, with mean volumes of 6.0 cm³.
- A mean peripheral dose of 16 Gy was prescribed, with a median isodose of 32.5%.
Findings:
- After a 60-month follow-up, 4/9 tumors disappeared, and 4/9 significantly shrank.
- One tumor's volume was indeterminate due to hemorrhage.
- Most patients remained asymptomatic or stable, though complications like hemorrhage and sepsis occurred.
Implications:
- GKS is a viable, minimally invasive option for neurocytoma management with low morbidity.
- Tumor control is achievable, but recurrence risk necessitates vigilant, long-term imaging surveillance.
- Early detection of recurrence is vital for timely retreatment decisions.
