Gamma knife radiosurgery for skull base meningiomas: long-term radiologic and clinical outcome

To analyze the long-term outcomes in patients with skull base meningiomas (SBMNGs) treated with Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS).

Of the 98 consecutive patients with SBMNGs treated with GKRS between 1998 and 2002, 63 were followed up for more than 48 months. The mean (+/-SD) age of the patients was 50 +/- 12 years, the mean tumor volume was 6.5 cm(3) (range, 0.5-18.4 cm(3)), the mean marginal dose was 12.6 Gy (range, 7.0-20.0 Gy), and the mean follow-up duration was 77 +/- 18 months. The mean number of shots was 13.7 +/- 3.8. The tumor volume was decreased at the last follow-up in 28 patients (44.4%) and increased in 6 (9.6%). The actuarial tumor control rate was 90.2% at 5 years. No notable prognostic factor related to tumor control was identified. Ten patients (15.9%) with a cranial neuropathy showed unfavorable outcomes. The rate of improvement in patients with a cranial neuropathy was 45.1%. Age >70 years was likely correlated with an unfavorable outcome in patients with cranial neuropathy (odds ratio = 0.027; p = 0.025; 95% confidence interval 0.001-0.632). Cavernous sinus location was significantly associated with improvement of a cranial neuropathy (odds ratio = 7.314; p = 0.007; 95% confidence interval 1.707-31.34).

Gamma Knife radiosurgery is an effective modality for the treatment of SBMNGs and provides favorable outcomes in patients with cranial neuropathy, even in the long-term follow-up period. However, radiosurgery for patients with no or only mild symptoms should be performed cautiously because neither complication rate is low enough to be negligible, especially in elderly patients. A cranial neuropathy by MNGs involving the cavernous sinus seems to have a higher chance of improvement after radiosurgery than other SBMNGs.