Long-term outcomes of spinal ependymomas: an institutional experience of more than 60 cases.

Purpose: Spinal ependymomas represent the most common primary intramedullary tumors for which optimal management remains undefined. When possible, gross total resection (GTR) is often the mainstay of treatment, with consideration of radiotherapy (RT) in cases of residual or recurrent tumor. The impact of extent of resection and radiotherapy remain understudied.

Brain metastases management paradigm shift: A case report and review of the literature.

Brain metastases are the most common intracranial tumors in adults, accounting for over half of all lesions. Whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT) has been a cornerstone in the management of brain metastases for decades. Recently, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) has been considered as a definitive or postoperative approach instead of WBRT, to minimize the risk of cognitive impairment that may be associated with WBRT.

Survival after surgery and stereotactic radiosurgery for patients with multiple intracranial metastases: results of a single-center retrospective study.

Objectives: Patients with systemic cancer and a single brain metastasis who undergo treatment with resection plus radiotherapy live longer and have a better quality of life than those treated with radiotherapy alone. Historically, whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) has been the mainstay of radiation therapy; however, it is associated with significant delayed neurocognitive sequelae. In this study, the authors looked at survival in patients with single and multiple intracranial metastases who had undergone surgery and adjuvant stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) to the tumor bed and synchronous lesions.

Diffusion abnormalities of the corpus callosum in patients receiving bevacizumab for malignant brain tumors: suspected treatment toxicity.

Bevacizumab has been reported to cause diffusion restriction in the tumor bed of patients with malignant gliomas. This study evaluated prolonged diffusion restriction, in the corpus callosum (CC), of patients with malignant brain tumors treated with bevacizumab. We retrospectively reviewed our database of patients treated with bevacizumab for malignant brain tumors looking for those with restricted diffusion in the CC.

Delayed malignant transformation of petroclival meningioma to chondrosarcoma after stereotactic radiosurgery.

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is often used as adjuvant treatment for residual or recurrent tumor following microsurgical resection of posterior fossa meningiomas. SRS is associated with excellent rates of local control, however long-term complications remain unclear. Secondary malignancy is an often discussed but rarely described complication of SRS.

Intracranial aneurysms in previously irradiated fields: literature review and case report.

Objective: Radiotherapy is a common treatment for a variety of disease processes in the central nervous system; it has an ever-increasing number of indications and applications. With the life expectancy of cancer patients increasing, delayed complications of radiation have become more apparent. One such potential complication is the appearance of intracranial aneurysms in the irradiated field.

Intracranial relapse rates and patterns, and survival trends following post-resection cavity radiosurgery for patients with single intracranial metastases.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the patterns of relapse and survival trends in patients with single brain metastases treated with post-operative adjuvant Gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery (GKS) without whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT). Retrospective analysis of all consecutive patients who underwent GKS to the tumor cavity following resection of solitary brain metastasis was performed at a single institution. Between March 2001 and June 2010, 56 patients underwent GKS to the resection cavity following resection of intracranial metastases; no patient received pre- or post-operative WBRT as an adjuvant (salvage WBRT was permissible).

Advances in the radiosurgical treatment of large inoperable arteriovenous malformations.

Radiosurgery has proven useful in the treatment of small arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) of the brain. However, the volume of healthy tissue irradiated around large lesions is rather significant, necessitating reduced radiation doses to avoid complications. As a consequence, this can produce poorer obliteration rates.

Phase III study of craniospinal radiation therapy followed by adjuvant chemotherapy for newly diagnosed average-risk medulloblastoma.

Purpose: To determine the event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival of children with average-risk medulloblastoma and treated with reduced-dose craniospinal radiotherapy (CSRT) and one of two postradiotherapy chemotherapies.

Methods: Four hundred twenty-one patients between 3 years and 21 years of age with nondisseminated medulloblastoma (MB) were prospectively randomly assigned to treatment with 23.4 Gy of CSRT, 55.

Phase I study of intraoperative radiotherapy with photon radiosurgery system in children with recurrent brain tumors: preliminary report of first dose level (10 Gy).

Purpose: To describe the preliminary results after intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) with the photon radiosurgery system in children with recurrent brain tumors treated at the first dose level (10 Gy) of a Phase I protocol.

Methods And Materials: A Phase I IORT dose escalation protocol was initiated at Children's Memorial Hospital to determine the maximal tolerated IORT dose in children with recurrent brain tumors.

Results: Fourteen children have received IORT thus far.

Adjuvant gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery at the time of tumor progression potentially improves survival for patients with glioblastoma multiforme.

Objective: Gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery (GK-SRS) is a safe and noninvasive treatment used as adjuvant therapy for patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Several studies have yielded conflicting results in the effectiveness of radiosurgery in GBM. This study is a retrospective review of our institutional experience with GK-SRS adjuvant therapy in the treatment of GBM.

Acute neurological complications following gamma knife surgery for vestibular schwannoma. Case report.

The authors describe an acute facial and acoustic neuropathy following gamma knife surgery (GKS) for vestibular schwannoma (VS). This 39-year-old woman presenting with tinnitus underwent GKS for a small right-sided intracanalicular VS, receiving a maximal dose of 26 Gy and a tumor margin dose of 13 Gy to the 50% isodose line. Thirty-six hours following treatment she presented with nausea, vomiting, vertigo, diminished hearing, and a House-Brackmann Grade III facial palsy.

Clinical outcome in children with craniopharyngioma treated with primary surgery and radiotherapy deferred until relapse.

Background: To report the clinical outcome in children with craniopharyngioma following primary surgery and deferred radiotherapy at relapse.

Procedure: Twenty-five children with craniopharyngioma were treated with primary surgery. Total resection was achieved in 19 children (76%), while in 24% total resection was not achieved due to tumor adhesion to adjacent critical structures.