Gamma knife radiosurgery for central neurocytoma: primary and secondary treatment.

BACKGROUND

Little is known about long-term results of gamma knife (GK) stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) as a primary or a secondary postoperative therapy for central neurocytomas (CNs). The authors retrospectively reviewed long-term outcomes of 13 patients with CN treated with GK SRS.

METHODS

Thirteen patients were treated with GK SRS as a primary (6 patients) or a secondary postoperative therapy (7 patients). Follow-up clinical status and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were thoroughly analyzed. The functional status of patients was assessed with the Karnofsky Performance Scale during follow-up.

RESULTS

The median follow-up period for clinical status and imaging studies was 61 months (range, 6 months to 96 months). Tumors decreased in 5 patients who received GK SRS as a primary treatment. However, the tumor recurred in 2 patients treated with a secondary GK SRS after surgery from the residual tumor bed that was not covered by the GK SRS. Parenchymal changes and secondary malignancies were not found in follow-up MRIs of all 13 patients. The Karnofsky Performance Scale score of all patients, except for 1 patient who suffered from an unrelated anteriorly communicating arterial aneurysmal rupture, did not change after GK SRS.

CONCLUSIONS

GK SRS may be useful as a primary or a secondary postoperative therapy for the treatment of CN. However, more attention should be paid to residual or recurrent CN during treatment, and regular long-term follow-up MRI should be mandatory to validate the procedure.