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Published on: April 17, 2012
Carbon ion radiotherapy for sacral chordoma
1Research Center Hospital for Charged Particle Therapy, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Anagawa 4-9-1, Inage-ku, Chiba, Japan.
The British Journal of Radiology
|March 24, 2011
Summary
Carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) is effective for sacral chordoma, showing an 86% 5-year survival rate and 88% local control. This advanced radiation therapy offers a safe alternative for patients with unresectable tumors.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Radiotherapy
- Medical Physics
Background:
- Sacral chordomas are rare bone tumors.
- Surgical resection is often challenging due to tumor location and potential for significant morbidity.
- Carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) offers a precise radiation delivery method.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of CIRT for medically unresectable sacral chordoma.
- To analyze long-term outcomes including survival, local control, and functional status.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 95 patients with sacral chordoma treated between 1996 and 2007.
- Patients received CIRT with doses ranging from 52.8 to 73.6 GyE in 16 fractions over 4 weeks.
- Data on overall survival, local control, ambulatory status, and complications were collected.
Main Results:
- The 5-year overall survival rate was 86%, with a median follow-up of 42 months.
- The 5-year local control rate was 88%, with a median time to local failure of 35 months.
- 91% of patients remained ambulatory; severe complications included skin/soft tissue issues (2 patients) and sciatic nerve issues (15 patients).
Conclusions:
- CIRT demonstrates significant efficacy in achieving long-term local control and survival for sacral chordoma.
- The treatment is associated with a high rate of preserved ambulatory function.
- CIRT represents a promising and safe alternative to surgery for sacral chordoma management.
