Gamma knife radiosurgery for treatment resistant choroid plexus papillomas.

OBJECTIVE

To report the results of gamma knife radiosurgery (GKR) for treatment resistant choroid plexus papillomas.

METHODS

Six patients (median age 55 years; range 29-75) with residual (n = 2) or recurrent (n = 4) choroid plexus papillomas underwent GKR. All failed prior surgery and one failed prior proton beam radiation therapy. These six patients had a total of 11 locally or distant recurrent intracranial tumors. The median and mean tumor volumes were 2.7 and 3.9 cc (range, 0.23-21.1). A median margin dose of 12.0 Gy (range, 11.5-15) was prescribed to the tumor margin.

RESULTS

The progression-free periods varied from 7 to 108 months (mean: 36.9). Four tumors were stable after GKR but seven showed progression. Four recurrent tumors in two patients were managed with repeat radiosurgery and three were observed. At the second GKR, the tumor volume varied from 1.3 to 12.4 cc, and the marginal radiation dose varied from 11 to 14 Gy. The overall survival after the first GKR varied from 15 to 120 months. Four patients were alive at the end of the study period.

CONCLUSIONS

Radiosurgery represents an additional management strategy for patients who progress despite surgical removal. It may especially be useful for patients with small deep seated residual choroid plexus papillomas, and for tumors that recur at a site distant from their origin.