Radiation therapy of brain tumors

Results of radiation therapy obtained at the University of California, San Francisco, over approximately the past 20 years for various histologic types of brain tumors are presented. Included are astrocytomas, malignant gliomas, medulloblastomas, ependymomas, oligodendrogliomas, and brain stem tumors. Degree of malignancy and tendency to disseminate within the central nervous system are also reviewed. For each tumor type and grade considered, the survival rate appeared improved when incomplete resection was followed by irradiation. The increase in survival rate for glioblastomas was only evident for 1-2 years, but for the remainder the improvement extends to 5-10 years. Since many patients were still alive at the time of review, it is possible that permanent control of many intracranial neoplasms may be induced by radiation therapy.