Experience of external beam radiotherapy given adjuvantly or at relapse following surgery for craniopharyngioma

• Published in: Radiotherapy and oncology 2005-10, Vol.77 (1), p.99-104
• Main Authors: Pemberton, Laura S., Dougal, Mark, Magee, Brian, Gattamaneni, H. Rao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Child; Child, Preschool; Combined Modality Therapy; Craniopharyngioma; Craniopharyngioma - radiotherapy; Craniopharyngioma - surgery; Disease-Free Survival; Female; Humans; Infant; Male; Middle Aged; Morbidity; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local - radiotherapy; Pituitary Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Pituitary Neoplasms - surgery; Radiotherapy; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; Retrospective Studies; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0167-8140; 1879-0887
• DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2005.04.015

Evaluation of effect of timing of external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) following surgery for craniopharyngioma. Between 1976 and 2002, 87 patients (28 children) received EBRT in a regional referral centre. Forty-four patients received EBRT adjuvantly and 43 on relapse. The median total dose was 42.5Gy (range 34.7–52.5Gy) in 2.25–2.83Gy fractions over a median of 20 days (range 17–32). Effect of EBRT timing, type of original surgery, age on survival, progression-free survival (PFS) and quality of life (QOL) was studied. Survival from diagnosis was 86 and 76% and PFS was 78 and 66% at 10 and 20 years, respectively, with no significant difference seen between those treated adjuvantly or at relapse or according to age. QOL deteriorated significantly from diagnosis to last follow-up. Excluding patients who relapsed following EBRT, QOL did not deteriorate significantly overall ( P=0.35). Children had worse QOL and greater morbidity at all timepoints compared to adults. EBRT is effective both adjuvantly and at relapse. QOL deteriorates over time-relapse following EBRT was the only significant factor. Children have greater morbidity compared to adults, but no evidence for greater EBRT-induced toxicity was seen.