Somnolence syndrome in patients receiving radical radiotherapy for primary brain tumours: a prospective study.

Background And Purpose: To characterise the incidence, pattern and severity of post cranial radiotherapy somnolence and to identify factors predictive of frequency and severity.

Materials And Methods: Seventy consecutive patients receiving radical cranial irradiation were prospectively assessed for somnolence at baseline, during and up to 10weeks following radiotherapy using five variables scored on a visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Littman scale. Fatigue was measured using the FACT-G score and quality of life using the EORTC QLQC30+3 with the brain tumour module questionnaire.

Fractionated stereotactic conformal radiotherapy following conservative surgery in the control of craniopharyngiomas.

Purpose: To describe the technique and results of stereotactically guided conformal radiotherapy (SCRT) in patients with craniopharyngioma after conservative surgery.

Methods And Materials: Thirty-nine patients with craniopharyngioma aged 3-68 years (median age 18 years) were treated with SCRT between June 1994 and January 2003. All patients were referred for radiotherapy after undergoing one or more surgical procedures.

Phase II study of primary temozolomide chemotherapy in patients with WHO grade II gliomas.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of temozolomide in patients with World Health Organisation (WHO) grade II gliomas treated with surgery alone using imaging and clinical criteria.

Patients And Methods: Thirty patients with histologically verified WHO grade II gliomas (17 astrocytoma, 11 oligodendroglioma, two mixed oligoastrocytoma) following surgery 2-104 months (median 23 months) after initial diagnosis received temozolomide 200 mg/m(2)/day for 5 days, on a 28-day cycle, for a maximum of 12 cycles or until tumour progression. Median age was 40 years (range 25-68 years).

Hypofractionated radiotherapy for poor prognosis malignant glioma: matched pair survival analysis with MRC controls.

Purpose: To assess the survival benefit of palliative hypofractionated radiotherapy in patients with poor prognosis high grade glioma by a matched comparison to conventionally treated controls.

Method: Ninety-two elderly and/or disabled patients with high grade glioma with poor prognostic features received palliative partial brain radiotherapy to a dose of 30Gy in six fractions over 2 weeks. Patients were matched for WHO histological grade, performance status and age from a cohort of patients treated with conventionally fractionated radiotherapy to a dose of 60Gy in 30 fractions in an Medical Research Council (MRC) BR05 trial.

Evaluation of a nurse-led telephone clinic in the follow-up of patients with malignant glioma.

The aim of this study was to evaluate nurse-led telephone follow-up (NTF) for patients with high-grade glioma as an alternative to conventional clinic follow-up (CCF) and to assess patient satisfaction with this approach. Patients who were completing primary therapy for high-grade glioma and were suitable for CCF were offered the alternative of nurse-led telephone follow-up. NTF was arranged by the nurse at mutually agreed times.