High-activity 125I interstitial irradiation in the treatment of pediatric central nervous system tumors: a pilot study.

Malignant pediatric tumors of the central nervous system (CNS) have a poor prognosis, with local failure rates as high as 50%. In an attempt to improve local tumor control, we used stereotactic interstitial therapy with 125I implants in patients with recurrent/secondary or newly diagnosed CNS malignancies. Catheters were placed using computed tomography (CT) guidance; computerized dosimetry was completed with the aid of orthogonal films. Implants delivered 1,000 cGy/day to the tumor periphery (0.5 cm beyond the boundary of enhancement on CT scans), to a total dose of 60 Gy. Hyperfractionated external beam irradiation (HEBI), started 2-4 weeks after removal of implants, delivered total doses of 66-70.4 Gy in 110-cGy fractions twice daily to a 3-cm margin around the implant volume. Eight of the 11 patients with newly diagnosed tumors also received 48.4 Gy HEBI to the craniospinal axis. Tumor regression was noted at 2 months after implantation in the 4 patients treated for recurrent/secondary tumors; local progression was subsequently documented in 2 cases at 6 and 20 months after implantation, while a third patient died 6 months after implantation with no evidence of local recurrence. The remaining recurrent/secondary tumor patient has no evidence of active recurrence 15 months after implantation. Local control was maintained in 9 of the 11 patients treated for primary tumors for a median of 27 months (range 15 to 48+ months). The two local failures occurred at 5 and 7 months after implantation. Six patients are alive without evidence of progressive disease (median = 23 months after implantation). There were no severe acute toxicities, but 7 patients later developed histologically confirmed tumor necrosis. Quality of life assessment (QLA) following initial primary therapy with implantation was evaluated utilizing an established criteria and found to be excellent with only one child showing marked QLA score decrease which was related to neurosurgical intervention for radiation-induced necrosis and dysfunctional family social situation. This small series suggests that stereotactic 125I implantation followed by HEBI merits further evaluation in selected children with supratentorial malignant lesions.