鼻咽癌局部复发分次立体定向放射治疗

目的　探讨分次立体定向放射治疗技术 ,在局部复发晚期鼻咽癌再程放疗中的应用。方法　 1997年 7月到 2 0 0 0年12月 ,采用分次立体定向放射治疗局部复发鼻咽癌 2 3例。所有病例均采用 6MVX线照射 ,设 1～ 3个中心 ,80 %剂量曲线将靶区完全包含。总剂量DT2 4～ 64Gy(中位剂量 5 2 .2Gy) ,单次剂量DT4～ 8Gy(中位剂量 6.4Gy)。 结果　局部复发鼻咽癌经分次立体定向放射治疗后 ,1年生存率为 78.3 % (18/2 3 )、2年生存率为 69.6% (16/2 3 )。 3 9.1% (9/2 3 )的患者随访期内死亡 ,其中死于局部复发 1例 ,死于远处转移 5例 ,鼻咽大出血 3例。结论　分次立体定向放射治疗用于局部复发鼻咽癌的治疗是安全有效的 ,但单次剂量和总剂量值得进一步研究。     

肺癌脑转移不同放射治疗方式临床分析

目的:探讨不同放射治疗方法对肺癌脑转移瘤的疗效,并结合文献分析.方法:130例肺癌脑转移患者行放射治疗,分全脑照射组(Whole brain radiotherapy WBRT),立体定向放射治疗外科组(Stereotactic radiosurgery SRS),全脑照射 立体定向放射外科治疗外科组(WBRT SRS).全脑照射1.8Gy-2Gy/次,总剂量30-40/15-20天,立体定向放射治疗外科边缘剂量8Gy-22Gy,单次或分次完成;全脑照射 立体定向放射治疗外科治疗组,先WBRT2Gy-2.2Gy/次,总剂量30Gy-44Cy/3-4周,之后SRS治疗,单次靶区边缘剂量8Gy-12Gy.结果:三组病例局部控制率分别为49.9%,81.6%和85%,中位生存期分别为5个月,11个月及12.3个月.结论:对于肺癌脑转移,SRS及WBRT SRS治疗在局部控制率和生存率上明显优于WBRT.     

不同分次剂量的立体定向放射治疗胶质瘤的临床研究

目的：探讨X线立体定向不同分次剂量放射治疗脑胶质细胞瘤的疗效。方法：对78例脑胶质细胞瘤患者,进行不同分次剂量的立体定向放射治疗。随机分为A、B、C三组,各组26例。A组分次剂量3.0Gy/次,5次/周,肿瘤总量DT45.0-50.0Gy;B组分次剂量5.0Gy/次,（3-4）次/周,肿瘤总量DT40.0Gy;C组分次剂量8.0Gy,2次/周,肿瘤总量DT32.0Gy。三组均采用非共面弧形旋转照射或固定野多野照射。另选一组为D组,常规放射治疗的患者共28例,肿瘤总量DT60.0Gy。结果：A、B、C、D组有效率分别为86.3%、83.3%、82.2%和73.2%,各组间有效率比较,差异无统计学意义,P〉0.05。1、2、3年生存率A、B、C、D组分别是92.3%、93.7%、77.9%、69.0%,84.5%、83.7%、57.8%、66.9%和80.0%、78.2%、41.7%、56.8%。A组与C组间生存率比较,3年生存率差异有统计学意义,P〈0.05。结论：不同分次剂量X线立体定向放射治疗,中等分次剂量疗效肯定。     

立体定向放射治疗肺癌脑转移疗效分析

目的探讨不同放射治疗方法对肺癌脑转移的疗效.方法176例由病理学证实的肺癌脑转移患者分为4组:单纯全脑放疗(WBRT)组、全脑放疗加立体定向放射外科(WBRT SRS)组、单纯立体定向放射治疗(SRT)组、全脑放疗加立体定向放射治疗(WBRT SRT)组.SRS治疗单次靶区平均周边剂量8～20Gy,总剂量20～32Gy;SRT治疗单次靶区平均周边剂量2～5Gy,总剂量25～60Gy;WBRT1.8～2Gy/次,总剂量30～40Gy.结果四组的局部控制率分别为47.0%、87.7%、86.5%和78.0%;中位生存期分别为5.0,11.0,11.5和10.0个月;局部无进展生存期分别为3.33,8.33,9.33和7.67个月;颅脑无新病灶生存期分别为4.11,8.57,9.03和6.12个月.在死因分析中,WBRT组死于脑转移的比率为57.6%,较其他三组高.而WBRT SRS组的晚期放射反应的发生率为12.2%,较其他组高.结论肺癌单发脑转移瘤患者的最佳治疗方式是单纯立体定向放射治疗,治疗失败后再行挽救性全脑照射或立体定向放疗.对于多发脑转移,全脑放疗加立体定向放射治疗(WBRT SRT)在提高生存率以及减少并发症方面优于其他治疗方法.     

59例头颅疾患的分次立体定向放射治疗疗效探讨

目的　初步探讨分次立体定向放射治疗头颅疾患近期疗效、急性副反应及相关因素。方法　 5 9例不同部位的头颅疾患应用分次立体定向放射治疗。 6MV -X射线总剂量DT 2 5～ 2 8Gy ,1～ 5个中心 ,60 %～ 90 %等剂量曲线包绕肿瘤边缘 ,限光筒直径 0 72～4.3 4cm。分割方式 :4 4～ 12 .5Gy/次 ,2～ 3次 /周。结果　临床症状改善为 79 7% ;影像学有效率为 93 2 % ;D >2 .86cm副反应较重 ;总生物剂量相同时 ,每周 2次或 3次疗效无差别 ;脑转移的近期疗效高于胶质瘤。结论　分次立体定向放射治疗头颅疾患近期疗效肯定 ,临床值得应用推广     

X线立体定向放射治疗脑恶性胶质细胞瘤的研究

目的　探讨X线立体定向放射治疗在脑恶性胶质细胞瘤 (BMG)治疗中的作用。方法　 1996年 10月～ 1998年 10月 ,112例CT或MRI证实术后病灶残瘤的BMG随机分为单纯常规放射治疗组 (单放组 )和常规放射治疗 +X线立体定向放射治疗 (立体定向放疗组 )。单放组 5 8例 ,男 40例 ,女 18例 ,年龄 16～ 76岁 (中位 40 .5岁 ) ,KPS6 0～ 70者 12例 ,>70者 46例 ;放疗前增强CT或MRI显示 ,肿瘤体积 1.0 0cm3 ～ 2 14 .78cm3 ,中位体积 2 1.0 0cm3 ;常规剂量分割照射 ,5次 /周 ,1.8～ 2Gy/次 ,总剂量 46 .2 0～ 6 5 .95Gy ,中位剂量 5 7.81Gy。立体定向放疗组共 5 4例 ,男 39例 ,女 15例 ,年龄 16～ 78岁 (中位年龄 44.5岁 ) ;KPS6 0～ 70者 8例 ,>70者 76例 ;肿瘤体积 1.76cm3 ～ 132 .0 0cm3 ,中位体积 2 2 .32cm3 ;先行常规照射 ,其照射野设计及其剂量分割与单放组相同 ,总剂量 45 .80～ 6 2 .45Gy ,中位剂量 5 5 .2 6Gy ;于常规放疗结束后 1周行立体定向放疗 ,采用非共面弧形旋转照射 ,PTV边缘剂量 8Gy～ 5 0Gy( 6 0 %～ 90 %等剂量曲线 ) ,中位 2 7.75Gy ;单次治疗 2 2例 ,分两次治疗者 2 8例 ,三次分割治疗者 6例 ,分次治疗的时间间隔为 1周 ;单次剂量 8Gy～ 5 0Gy ,中位单次剂量 15Gy。结果　治疗结束后 3个月CT     

X线立体定向放射治疗与全脑放射治疗脑转移瘤的疗效比较

目的 评价X线立体定向放射治疗脑转移瘤的疗效。方法 单纯全脑照射20例（WBI组），单纯X线立体定向放射治疗19例（SRI组），X线立体定向放射加全脑放射治疗39例（SRT＋WBI组）。WBI组和SRT＋WBI组全脑放疗总剂量均为30－40Gy／2－4周。SRT组和SRT＋WBI组立体定向放射治疗，每次剂量为4．5－7．5Gy，每周3次，总剂量21－42Gy。结果 局部控制率、局部复发率和因脑转移所致率，WBI组分别为65．0％、25．0％和52．9％；SRT组分别为94．7％、5．3％和116．7％；SRT＋WBI组分别为89．75、0和8．7％。WBI组与其它2组比较，局部控制率、局部复发率和因脑转移所致死亡率均有显著性差异（P＜0．05）。结论 X线立体定向放射治疗脑转移瘤，在提高局部控制率、降低局复发率方面优于全脑放疗。     

X线立体定向适形放射治疗晚期胰腺癌

目的评价X线立体定向适形放射治疗在晚期胰腺癌治疗中的价值.方法晚期胰腺癌68例,胆肠内引流术后行立体定向适形放射治疗30例,单纯行立体定向适形放射治疗25例,单纯行胆肠内引流术13例.X线立体定向适形放射治疗采用分次照射,方法为4～5Gy/次,隔日1次,总量达40～50Gy.结果胆肠内引流术加立体定向适形放射治疗组、单纯立体定向适形放射治疗组及单纯胆肠内引流组的1、2、3年生存率分别为66.7%、20%、6.67%;44.4%、4%、0;15.39%、0、0.结论胆肠内引流术加立体定向适形放射治疗晚期胰腺癌,疗效优于单纯立体定向适形放射治疗及单纯胆肠内引流.     

38例肺癌脑转移瘤放射治疗效果分析

目的：探讨立体定向放射治疗加全脑照射治疗肺癌脑转移瘤疗效，结合文献复习对其治疗原则做一探讨。方法：38例肺癌脑转移瘤患者均行立体定向放射治疗加全脑照射的放射治疗，24例先行立体定向放射治疗，14例先行全脑照射。立体定向放射治疗周边剂量10-28Gy，单次或分次完成；全脑照射DT30-40Gy/3-4周，均用瓦里安6MV的直线加速器实施治疗。结果：38例中位生存时间9.8个月，肿瘤控制率92.1%，1年生存率39.5%。治疗失败原因为肿瘤复发或全身多部位转移。结论：立体定向放射治疗加全脑照射在肺癌脑转移瘤的治疗效果明显低于常规的全脑照射加缩野推量技术。     

X线立体定向放射治疗与化疗并用对肺转移瘤的疗效分析

目的　探讨X线立体定向放射治疗与化疗并用对肺转移瘤的治疗价值。方法　自 1996年 9月～ 1999年 6月共收治肺转移瘤67例。其中单放组 42例 ,综合组 (放疗 +以顺铂、阿霉素为主肺动脉灌注化疗 ) 2 5例。单发转移 2 8例 ,多发转移 3 9例 ,共治疗转移灶 12 8个 ,临床靶体积 (CTV) 0 2 6～ 15 3 17cm3 ,平均 9 5 3cm3 ,计划靶体积 (PTV) 3 62～ 2 3 1 83cm3 ,平均 17 68cm3 。使 10 0 %等剂量线覆盖PTV ,并以此为靶区处方剂量 ,单次靶区处方剂量平均为 9 73Gy ,间隔 1～ 2天 ,总照射剂量平均 3 3 4Gy。结果　单放组与综合组 1年生存率为 83 3 %和 84 0 % (P >0 0 5 ) ,2年生存率为 3 1 0 %和 5 3 8% (P <0 0 1) ,1年局部控制率分别为 80 8%和 87 2 % (P<0 0 1)。疗后 2～ 6个月肺CT影象学有效率分别为 84 9%和 89 1% (P <0 0 1) ,肺内新出现转移病变例数比例为 3 0 9%和 16 0 %(P <0 0 1)。结论　X线立体定向放射治疗能有效地控制局部肿瘤 ,配合化疗疗效叠加 ,提高控制率 ,抑制微转移灶的发展 ,可延长生存时间     

Radiosurgery for re-irradiation of brain metastasis: results in 54 patients.

PURPOSE: To evaluate in terms of probabilities of local-regional control and survival, as well as of treatment-related toxicity, results of radiosurgery for brain metastasis arising in previously irradiated territory. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 1994 and March 2000, 54 consecutive patients presenting with 97 metastases relapsing after whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) were treated with stereotactic radiotherapy. Median interval between the end of WBRT and radiosurgery was 9 months (range 2-70). Median age was 53 years (24-80), and median Karnofski performance status (KPS) 70 (60-100). Forty-seven patients had one radiosurgery, five had two and two had three. Median metastasis diameter and volume were 21 mm (6-59) and 1.2 cc (0.1-95.2), respectively. A Leksell stereotactic head frame (Leksell Model G, Elektra, Instrument, Tucker, GA) was applied under local anesthesia. Irradiation was delivered by a gantry mounted linear accelerator (linacs) (Saturne, General Electric). Median minimal dose delivered to the gross disease was 16.2 Gy (11.8-23), and median maximal dose 21.2 Gy (14- 42). RESULTS: Median follow-up was 9 months (1-57). Five metastases recurred. One- and 2-year metastasis local control rates were 91.3 and 84% and 1- and 2-year brain control rates were 65 and 57%, respectively. Six patients died of brain metastasis evolution, and three of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis. One- and 2-year overall survival rates were 31 and 28%, respectively. According to univariate analysis, KPS, RPA class, SIR score and interval between WBRT and radiosurgery were prognostic factors of overall survival and brain free-disease survival. According to multivariate analysis, RPA was an independent factor of overall survival and brain free-disease survival, and the interval between WBRT and radiosurgery longer than 14 months was associated with longer brain free-disease survival. Side effects were minimal, with only two cases of headaches and two of grade 2 alopecia. CONCLUSION: Salvage radiosurgery of metastasis recurring after whole brain irradiation is an effective and accurate treatment which could be proposed to patients with a KPS>70 and a primary tumour controlled or indolent. We recommend that a dose not exceeding 14 Gy should be delivered to an isodose representing 70% of the maximal dose since local control observed rate was similar to that previously published in literature with upper dose and side effects were minimal.     

Phase II trial of hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy for brain metastases: results and toxicity.

PURPOSE: To prospectively evaluate efficacy and side effects of hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (hfSRT) for irresectable brain metastases not amenable to radiosurgery (SRS). METHODS AND MATERIALS: From 1/2003 to 2/2005, 51 patients with 72 brain metastases were included in a prospective phase II-trial and accepted for treatment at the dedicated stereotactic radiosurgery system Novalis (BrainLAB, Heimstetten, Germany). In case of planned or prior whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT), hfSRT was to be performed with 5 x 6 Gy, otherwise with 5 x 7 Gy. This dose was prescribed to the 90% isodose line which should cover 100% of the planning target volume (PTV). RESULTS: Rates of complete remission (CR), partial remission (PR), no change (NC) and progressive disease (PD) were 66.7%, 18.1%, 12.5% and 2.8%, respectively, after a median follow-up of 7 months. Median survival was 11 months. Disease-specific survival and survival related to brain metastases were strongly associated with the size of gross tumor volume (GTV), the planning target volume (PTV), Karnofsky Performance Score (KPS) and number of metastases. Side effects, i.e., increase in T2w-signal area, duration of steroid intake and size of new or progressive necrotic centre of metastasis, were dependent on the volume of normal brain irradiated with more than 4 Gy per fraction (V(4Gy)). Significantly more patients with a V(4Gy)> or =23 cc developed radiological signs of side effects from hfSRT. CONCLUSION: Hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy with 5 x 6-7 Gy is an effective and safe treatment for brain metastases not amenable to single high-dose radiosurgery. The normal brain volume receiving >4 Gy per fraction may not exceed 20 cc.     

Four cases of meningeal hemangiopericytoma treated with surgery and radiotherapy.

We report our experiences of four cases with meningeal hemangiopericytoma treated with surgery and postoperative radiotherapy and survey the literature to elucidate the efficacy of radiotherapy. Patients were treated with surgical resection and 46-52 Gy postoperative radiotherapy. Three patients had local control for 30, 54 and 138 months, respectively and one patient had local recurrence after 49 months. Distant metastases were observed in two patients; one had multiple bone, liver and lung metastases and the other multiple bone and brain metastases. For bone and brain metastases, better tumor control was obtained with palliative radiotherapy and stereotactic radiotherapy. Literature analyses demonstrated that surgery and postoperative radiotherapy of 50 Gy or more resulted in significantly better local control than surgery alone (p = 0.02). Stereotactic radiosurgery was effective for intracranial recurrence or metastasis, especially when the tumor volume was <8 cm(3) and >15 Gy at the 50% isodose line was used. Radiotherapy for bone metastases was also effective for palliation.     

Re-irradiation of brain metastases and metastatic spinal cord compression: clinical practice suggestions

The recent improvements of therapeutic approaches in oncology have allowed a certain number of patients with advanced disease to survive much longer than in the past. So, the number of cases with brain metastases and metastatic spinal cord compression has increased, as has the possibility of developing a recurrence in areas of the central nervous system already treated with radiotherapy. Clinicians are reluctant to perform re-irradiation of the brain, because of the risk of severe side effects. The tolerance dose for the brain to a single course of radiotherapy is 50-60 Gy in 2 Gy daily fractions. New metastases appear in 22-73% of the cases after whole brain radiotherapy, but the percentage of reirradiated patients is 3-10%. An accurate selection must be made before giving an indication to re-irradiation. Patients with Karnofsky performance status > 70, age < 65 years, controlled primary and no extracranial metastases are those with the best prognosis. The absence of extracranial disease was the most significant factor in conditioning survival, and maximum tumor diameter was the only variable associated with an increased risk of unacceptable acute and/or chronic neurotoxicity. Re-treatment of brain metastases can be done with whole brain radiotherapy, stereotactic radiosurgery or fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy. Most patients had no relevant radiation-induced toxicity after a second course of whole brain radiotherapy or stereotactic radiosurgery. There are few data on fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy in the re-irradiation of brain metastases. In general, the incidence of an "in-field" recurrence of spinal metastasis varies from 2.5-11% of cases and can occur 2-40 months after the first radiotherapy cycle. Radiation-induced myelopathy can occur months or years (6 months-7 years) after radiotherapy, and the pathogenesis remains obscure. Higher radiotherapy doses, larger doses per fraction, and previous exposure to radiation could be associated with a higher probability of developing radiation-induced myelopathy. Experimental data indicate that also the total dose of the first and second radiotherapy, interval to re-treatment, length of the irradiated spinal cord, and age of the treated animals influence the risk of radiation-induced myelopathy. An alpha/beta ratio of 1.9-3 Gy could be generally the reference value for fractionated radiotherapy. However, when fraction sizes are up to 5 Gy, the linear-quadratic equation become a less valid model. The early diagnosis of relapse is crucial in conditioning response to re-treatment.     

Radiotherapeutic management of brain metastases from breast cancer

We have reviewed the medical records of 28 breast cancer patients with brain metastases who were treated with radiotherapy at our clinic from 1980 through 1994 (4 patients, postoperatively; 24 patients, radiotherapy alone). Radiotherapy was delivered as whole brain irradiation using lateral opposed 10 MV X-rays. Ten patients received an additional boost to a reduced field. One patient was treated with localized stereotactic irradiation alone. The radiation dose for tumors ranged from 32 Gy to 60 Gy (mean, 49 Gy) in 2 or 3 Gy daily fractionated doses. The brain was the first site of metastatic involvement in only two patients. In the 26 evaluable patients, neurologic functional improvement was achieved in 24 patients (92%) with complete response (CR) in 1 2 patients (46%) and partial response (PR) in 1 2 patients (46%). The survival rates from the initial treatment were 39% at 5 years and 16% at 10 years (median survival time, 50 months), and those after treatment of brain metastases were 29% at one year and 18% at 2 years (median survival time, 6 months). Performance status tended to be associated with survival (p=0.10), and the presence of liver metastasis was the most important risk factor concerning survival (p=0.056). Two patients suffered severe chronic complications. One patient developed severe dementia after whole brain irradiation with a total dose of 45 Gy in 3 Gy daily fractionated dose, and another patient developed widespread brain necrosis after combined radiotherapy with intrathecal local infusion of methotrexate. Radiotherapeutic management is useful for breast cancer patients with brain metastasis, and long-term survival may also be possible even if patients have preexisting extracranial metastases, except for hepatic involvement. Radiation-related complications should therefore be avoided in these patients.     

Stereotactic radiosurgery for metastatic brain tumors

We report on a prospective phase TI study utilizing stereotactic radiosurgery for patients with intracranial parenchymal metastases. Fifty patients ranging in age from 38 to 77 years with 1 to 3 intraparenchymal brain metastases were treated with stereotactic radiosurgery either immediately following whole brain radiotherapy or at the time of intracranial disease progression following failure of whole brain radiotherapy. Twenty patients treated with adjuvant therapy received a median radiosurgical dose of 20 Gy. Thirty patients treated with salvage therapy received a median radiosurgical dose of 20 Gy. No immediate neurotoxicity was seen following radiosurgery however, 4 patients (8%) developed symptomatic radiation necrosis. Median survival was 6.5 and 6.0 months for patients treated with adjuvant and salvage radiosurgery respectively. In patients with oligometastatic brain metastases manifesting intracranial disease progression after whole brain radiotherapy, salvage radiotherapy appears to offer improved palliation when compared to retreatment with whole brain radiotherapy. The results of patients treated with up-front adjuvant radiosurgery when compared to historical controls treated with whole brain radiotherapy only are less clear as to benefit and require a phase III study before definitive recommendations can be made.     

Hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy as an alternative to radiosurgery for the treatment of patients with brain metastases

PURPOSE: Modeling studies have demonstrated a potential biologic advantage of fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy for malignant brain tumors as compared to radiosurgery (SRS), even when only a few fractions are utilized. We prospectively evaluated the feasibility, toxicity, efficacy and cost of hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (HSRT) in the treatment of selected radiosurgery-eligible patients with brain metastases. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Patients with a limited number of brain metastases not involving the brainstem or optic chiasm underwent linac-based HSRT delivered in 3 fractions using a relocatable stereotactic frame. Depth-helmet and reference point measurements were recorded to address treatment accuracy. All patients underwent whole brain radiotherapy to a dose of 30 Gy. Toxicity, response, and survival duration were recorded for each patient. Prognostic factors were assessed by Cox regression analysis. Cost comparisons with a cohort of SRS treated patients were performed. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients with 57 brain metastases were treated with HSRT. Twenty-three and 9 patients underwent HSRT for upfront and salvage treatment, respectively. The median dose delivered was 27 Gy, given in 3 fractions of 9 Gy. From 3328 depth-helmet measurements, the absolute median setup deviation in AP, lateral, and vertical orientations was approximately 1.0 mm. No significant acute toxicity was seen. Late toxicities included seizures in four patients, and radionecrosis in two patients. The median survival duration from treatment was 12 months. KPS (p = 0.039) and RTOG-RPA class (p = 0.039) were identified as significant prognostic factors for survival. HSRT was $4119 less costly than SRS. CONCLUSION: HSRT, as delivered in this study, is more comfortable for patients and less costly than SRS in the treatment of selected patients with brain metastases. Proper dose selection and radiobiologic/toxicity trade-offs with SRS await further study.     

Stereotactic radiosurgery plus whole brain radiotherapy versus radiotherapy alone for patients with multiple brain metastases.

PURPOSE: Multiple brain metastases are a common health problem, frequently diagnosed in patients with cancer. The prognosis, even after treatment with whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT), is poor with average expected survivals less than 6 months. Retrospective series of stereotactic radiosurgery have shown local control and survival benefits in case series of patients with solitary brain metastases. We hypothesized that radiosurgery plus WBRT would provide improved local brain tumor control over WBRT alone in patients with two to four brain metastases. METHODS: Patients with two to four brain metastases (all < or =25 mm diameter and known primary tumor type) were randomized to initial brain tumor management with WBRT alone (30 Gy in 12 fractions) or WBRT plus radiosurgery. Extent of extracranial cancer, tumor diameters on MRI scan, and functional status were recorded before and after initial care. RESULTS: The study was stopped at an interim evaluation at 60% accrual. Twenty-seven patients were randomized (14 to WBRT alone and 13 to WBRT plus radiosurgery). The groups were well matched to age, sex, tumor type, number of tumors, and extent of extracranial disease. The rate of local failure at 1 year was 100% after WBRT alone but only 8% in patients who had boost radiosurgery. The median time to local failure was 6 months after WBRT alone (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.5-8.5) in comparison to 36 months (95% CI, 15.6-57) after WBRT plus radiosurgery (p = 0.0005). The median time to any brain failure was improved in the radiosurgery group (p = 0.002). Tumor control did not depend on histology (p = 0.85), number of initial brain metastases (p = 0.25), or extent of extracranial disease (p = 0.26). Patients who received WBRT alone lived a median of 7.5 months, while those who received WBRT plus radiosurgery lived 11 months (p = 0.22). Survival did not depend on histology or number of tumors, but was related to extent of extracranial disease (p = 0.02). There was no neurologic or systemic morbidity related to stereotactic radiosurgery. CONCLUSIONS: Combined WBRT and radiosurgery for patients with two to four brain metastases significantly improves control of brain disease. WBRT alone does not provide lasting and effective care for most patients.     

Stereotactic radiosurgical boost following radiotherapy in primary nasopharyngeal carcinoma: impact on local control

PURPOSE: Treatment of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma using external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) alone results in significant local recurrence. Although intracavitary brachytherapy can be used as a component of management, it may be inadequate if there is extension of disease to the skull base. To improve local control, stereotactic radiosurgery was used to boost the primary tumor site following fractionated radiotherapy in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Twenty-three consecutive patients were treated with radiosurgery following radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma from 10/92 to 5/98. All patients had biopsy confirmation of disease prior to radiation therapy; Stage III disease (1 patient), Stage IV disease (22 patients). Fifteen patients received cisplatinum-based chemotherapy in addition to radiotherapy. Radiosurgery was delivered using a frame-based LINAC as a boost (range 7 to 15 Gy, median 12 Gy) following fractionated radiation therapy (range 64.8 to 70 Gy, median 66 Gy). RESULTS: All 23 patients (100%) receiving radiosurgery as a boost following fractionated radiation therapy are locally controlled at a mean follow-up of 21 months (range 2 to 64 months). There have been no complications of treatment caused by radiosurgery. However, eight patients (35%) have subsequently developed regional or distant metastases. CONCLUSIONS: Stereotactic radiosurgical boost following fractionated EBRT provides excellent local control in advanced stage nasopharynx cancer and should be considered for all patients with this disease. The treatment is safe and effective and may be combined with cisplatinum-based chemotherapy.