[Efficiency of radiation or chemoradiation therapy for diffusely growing brainstem tumors in children]

Radiation or chemoradiation therapy was performed in 97 children with diffusely growing brainstem tumors. A reduction in the severity of neurological disorders was achieved in 92 (94.8%) patients. The course of the disease was traced in 79 patients. Control studies recorded no complete tumor regression. Following 4-8 months, there was growth resumption of a tumor with its lysis and cyst formation in most children. The principal cause of death was local tumor progression. Six-month survivors were 64 (81%) patients; one-, two-, and three-survivors were 21 (26.5%), 8 (10.1%), and 3 (7.65) patients, respectively; one (2.8%) patient survived 5 years. A combination of radiotherapy and monochemotherapy with temodal, vincristine, oncofer, and theraloc failed to improve immediate and long-term results