Quality of life after stereotactic radiotherapy for meningioma: a prospective non-randomized study

Stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) is well-established in the treatment of meningiomas offering high local control with low toxicity. However, the impact of SRT on quality of life (QoL) of patients remains largely unknown. This work aimed to prospectively evaluate QoL (longitudinal analysis) during and after SRT of meningiomas. We performed a single center, one-armed, prospective non-randomized study to assess QoL before and at the end of SRT (median fraction dose: 1.8 Gy; median cumulative dose: 54.0 Gy) and furthermore biannually until 24 months after SRT with the "medical outcome study short form 36". This questionnaire evaluates 8 health parameters summarized in "physical component scale" (PCS) and "mental component scale" (MCS). Between 2005 and 2007, 67 patients were enrolled and treated with SRT. 42/52 patients underwent previous operations and 10/52 primary SRT. Complete follow-up data were available from 44 patients. Compared to the german normal population (GNP) a general decrease in the mean values of all parameters was observed. After SRT mean values still declined and 12 months after SRT all parameters normalized towards their initial values. The cohort (previous operations) had better values for MCS (p = 0.004). The cohort (primary SRT) had worse values for PCS that increased asymptotically 6 months after SRT to values of cohort (previous operations) (p = 0.054). Gender, age and tumor related symptoms did not affect QoL according to MCS and PCS (p > 0.05). Local control was 98 %. Treatment was well tolerated and no severe side effects were observed. Patients with meningiomas have an impaired QoL compared to GNP. The QoL assessment after SRT revealed three phases: "depressive phase", "recovery phase" and "normalization phase". Patients treated with primary SRT developed a stable increase of the mean values for PCS. Gender, age, applied dose, symptomatology did not affect QoL.