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Updated: Jul 8, 2026
10:35
Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Gynecologic Cancer
Published on: April 17, 2012
Radiotherapy and radiosurgery for Cushing's disease
Giuseppe Minniti1, Michael Brada
1Department of Neurological Sciences, Neuroendocrinology Unit, NEUROMED Institute, Pozzilli, IS, Italy.
Arquivos Brasileiros De Endocrinologia E Metabologia
|January 23, 2008
Summary
Fractionated radiotherapy, including conventional and stereotactic radiotherapy, effectively treats Cushing's disease. Single fraction radiosurgery shows lower efficacy and higher toxicity, making it less suitable for most patients.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Radiation Oncology
- Neurosurgery
Background:
- Cushing's disease often requires treatment after surgery to control hormone levels.
- External beam radiotherapy (RT) is used for residual or recurrent disease, aiming for tumor control and hormone normalization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the efficacy and toxicity of conventional RT, fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (SCRT), and single fraction radiosurgery (SRS).
- To compare different radiation techniques for Cushing's disease management.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of published literature on conventional RT, SCRT, and SRS for Cushing's disease.
- Analysis of treatment technical aspects, efficacy (hormone and tumor control), and toxicity (hypopituitarism, neural injury).
Main Results:
- Fractionated irradiation (conventional RT and SCRT) demonstrated better hormone and tumor control rates than SRS.
- Hypopituitarism is the most common late complication across all RT types.
- SRS carries a higher risk of radiation injury to normal neural structures compared to fractionated treatments.
Conclusions:
- Fractionated conventional and stereotactic radiotherapy are effective for Cushing's disease refractory to surgery.
- SRS is less effective and more toxic, thus not recommended for most Cushing's disease patients.
- Longer follow-up is needed to fully assess the long-term toxicity profile of SCRT compared to conventional RT.
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