The role of radiotherapy in the control of midbrain tumours

This study examined 37 patients who were referred to the Queensland Radium Institute between 1980 and 1989 with tumours of the midbrain to determine if there were any factors which were associated with an improved prognosis. In those patients in whom histology was available, the grade of the tumour was of importance. High grade tumours had a shorter survival than low grade tumours. There was a dose response effect with increasing survival as the dose increased from less than 45Gy up to 50Gy. There were no deaths beyond two years, implying that two year survival is an indicator of long term survival.