Radiotherapy of midbrain and brainstem tumours in children

From 1984 to 1987 in the First Radiotherapy Department in the Centre of Oncology in Warsaw, 11 children with midbrain (group I) and 14 with brainstem (group II) tumours were treated. In 4 cases diagnostic biopsy was performed and in 21 diagnosis was established by CT scan. All children were treated with megavoltage radiotherapy with a Co-60 unit. The initial radiotherapy treatment volume was determined from CT scan and was subsequently adapted to include whole brain or whole cranio-spinal axis, depending on the response to treatment. Improvement or stabilization of disease in 23/25 (92%) of cases was observed. Total survival, longer than 3 years in 14/25 (56%) was observed, while 9/11 (82%) survived greater than 3 years (NED) in group I, and in 4/14 (28%) in group II. Ninety two percent of living children have normal school life, with minimal or no neurological defects.