gms | German Medical Science

63rd Annual Meeting of the German Society of Neurosurgery (DGNC)
Joint Meeting with the Japanese Neurosurgical Society (JNS)

German Society of Neurosurgery (DGNC)

13 - 16 June 2012, Leipzig

Brachytherapy alone or in combination with microsurgery for pediatric low-grade gliomas in eloquent locations

Meeting Abstract

  • M. Kunz - Neurochirurgische Klinik und Poliklinik, Campus Großhadern, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München
  • S. Schwarz - Klinik und Poliklinik für Strahlentherapie und Radioonkologie, Campus Großhadern, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München
  • J.C. Tonn - Neurochirurgische Klinik und Poliklinik, Campus Großhadern, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München
  • F.W. Kreth - Neurochirurgische Klinik und Poliklinik, Campus Großhadern, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München
  • A. Peraud - Neurochirurgische Klinik und Poliklinik, Campus Großhadern, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie. Japanische Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie. 63. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie (DGNC), Joint Meeting mit der Japanischen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie (JNS). Leipzig, 13.-16.06.2012. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2012. DocSA.02.05

doi: 10.3205/12dgnc315, urn:nbn:de:0183-12dgnc3151

Published: June 4, 2012

© 2012 Kunz et al.
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Outline

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Objective: Treatment of pediatric low-grade gliomas in eloquent areas is still challenging. The aim of this ongoing prospective study was to analyze safety and effectiveness of stereotactic Iodine-125 brachytherapy (BT) alone or in combination with microsurgery (in case of larger tumor volumes).

Methods: Thirty-four consecutively treated patients (15 girls/19 boys mean age: 9.4 years) (4/2000–4/2011) were included. The date of the last follow-up was 10/2011. BT (after stereotactic biopsy) was considered to be indicated for circumscribed tumors with a diameter ≤4 cm (21 patients). For larger tumors, a combined approach was preferred (13 patients): After a planned partial resection, BT of the residual tumour was carried out 3 months later. Exclusively low-activity temporary Iodine-125 seeds were used: the median reference dose was 54 Gy, the dose rate was low (median: 10 cGy/h). Tumor location was lobar (N=8), hypothalamic/suprasellar (N=11), diencephalic (N=9), cerebellar (N=3), and within the brainstem (N=3). Treatment response was estimated according to the MacDonald criteria. For survival analyses, the Kaplan-Meier method was used. Functional evaluation focused on the comparison of the ophthalmological, endocrinological, and neurological data pre- and postoperatively.

Results: Median follow-up was 38 months. Twenty-three patients had a WHO grade I glioma, and 11 a WHO grade II glioma. Complete response, partial response and tumor control after BT were seen in 8, 17, and 6 patients, respectively. Tumor progression was seen in 3 patients and two of them died. The 5-year progression free survival (survival) was 89% (92%). One patient received radiation therapy plus chemotherapy after malignant transformation of a Grade II astrocytoma. Transient perioperative morbidity was 15% after microsurgery and 8.8% after BT. There was no permanent morbidity. Two patients presented with a symptomatic radionecrosis 11 months after BT requiring necrosectomy. Last follow-up with functional evaluation of those with preoperative deficits revealed an improvement, stabilization or deterioration in 18/26, 5/26, and 3/26 patients, respectively.

Conclusions: Stereotactic BT alone or in combination with microsurgery (in the case of larger tumors) is safe and effective for pediatric patients with low-grade gliomas located in eloquent locations. It is mostly associated with improvement/stabilization of functional outcome scores. The application of external beam radiation and/or chemotherapy can be withheld.