Conformal radiotherapy in children with low-grade brain tumours: treatment results and toxicity

Abstract

Background

The conformal radiotherapy technique is a particularly important method for the treatment of children with localized low-grade brain tumours, whose prognosis, with regard to long-term survival is often excellent and should be accompanied by the smallest possible risk of toxicity.

Aim

The results of 3-D conformal radiotherapy in children with low-grade astrocytoma and craniopharyngioma, treated in our department to present.

Materials/Methods

Between 1997–2001, 20 children, aged between 3.5 and 18 years, with low-grade brain tumours (8 craniopharyngioma and 12 low-grade astrocytoma) were treated with conformal radiotherapy. In the craniopharyngioma group, all patients were irradiated owing to tumour recurrence, after multiple surgeries, and were seriously handicapped before the commencement of radiotherapy. Patients with astrocytoma were treated after chemotherapy, partial surgery or biopsy only.

Results

All patients with craniopharyngioma survived with no recurrence (5) or with a stable disease state (3). Radiation related complications were not observed. Four patients with astrocytoma died, due to progressive disease (3) or chemotherapy related complications (1). Two patients are living with dissemination to the CNS, 4 with no recurrence and 2 have stabilized. Late complications after radiotherapy were not observed.

Conclusions

Three-dimensional radiation therapy is a safe and successful method for the combined treatment of children with low-grade brain tumours. The risk of radiotherapy related complications is relatively low.