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Radiation therapy in paediatric gliomas: our institutional experience
Affiliations- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, United States
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Abstract
The aim of our retrospective study was to analyze the clinical outcome of paediatric glioma patients treated with radiation therapy (RT) in our institution.
Material and methodsWe retrieved the case records of all children with gliomas (age < 18 years) who received RT in our department between 2004 and 2007. We analyzed the information regarding patients' demography, clinical details, treatment given, RT details, and survival. The event-free survival (EFS), the period from the date of completion of RT to the date of the event, i.e. death/recurrence, was calculated with respect to age, sex, location of tumour (brainstem vs. non-brainstem), histopathology (low grade vs. high grade), extent of surgical resection, dose and duration of RT, and use of chemotherapy.
ResultsA total of 70 children with glioma received RT during the above-mentioned period. The 3-year EFS rate for all patients was 44% and the median EFS period was 18 months. The 3-year EFS in patients who underwent surgical decompression and no surgery was 58% and 25%, respectively (p < 0.05). Patients with brainstem lesions had statistically significantly lower 3-year EFS to non-brainstem gliomas (28% vs. 56%, p < 0.01). Chemotherapy use showed no statistically significant trend towards better survival.
ConclusionsRT is an effective modality of treatment in paediatric glioma patients in our setup. Early use of RT in incompletely resected low-grade gliomas is worth revisiting. Results of chemotherapy in high-grade glioma and brainstem gliomas are encouraging.
Abstract
The aim of our retrospective study was to analyze the clinical outcome of paediatric glioma patients treated with radiation therapy (RT) in our institution.
Material and methodsWe retrieved the case records of all children with gliomas (age < 18 years) who received RT in our department between 2004 and 2007. We analyzed the information regarding patients' demography, clinical details, treatment given, RT details, and survival. The event-free survival (EFS), the period from the date of completion of RT to the date of the event, i.e. death/recurrence, was calculated with respect to age, sex, location of tumour (brainstem vs. non-brainstem), histopathology (low grade vs. high grade), extent of surgical resection, dose and duration of RT, and use of chemotherapy.
ResultsA total of 70 children with glioma received RT during the above-mentioned period. The 3-year EFS rate for all patients was 44% and the median EFS period was 18 months. The 3-year EFS in patients who underwent surgical decompression and no surgery was 58% and 25%, respectively (p < 0.05). Patients with brainstem lesions had statistically significantly lower 3-year EFS to non-brainstem gliomas (28% vs. 56%, p < 0.01). Chemotherapy use showed no statistically significant trend towards better survival.
ConclusionsRT is an effective modality of treatment in paediatric glioma patients in our setup. Early use of RT in incompletely resected low-grade gliomas is worth revisiting. Results of chemotherapy in high-grade glioma and brainstem gliomas are encouraging.
Keywords
paediatric glioma, radiation therapy, retrospective analysis
About this articleTitle
Radiation therapy in paediatric gliomas: our institutional experience
Journal
Neurologia i Neurochirurgia Polska
Issue
Pages
28-34
Page views
198
Article views/downloads
302
DOI
10.1016/S0028-3843(14)60404-7
Bibliographic record
Neurol Neurochir Pol 2010;44(1):28-34.
Keywords
paediatric glioma
radiation therapy
retrospective analysis
Authors
Daya Nand Sharma
Shikha Goyal
Sandeep Muzumder
Kunhi Parambath Haresh
Amit Bahl
Parmod Kumar Julka
Goura Kisor Rath
