| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2010 | Volume
: 1
| Issue : 1 | Page : 23-28 |
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Gamma knife radiosurgery of meningiomas involving the foramen magnum
RM Starke, JH Nguyen, DL Reames, J Rainey, JP Sheehan
Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
Correspondence Address:
J P Sheehan
Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908
USA
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0974-8237.65478
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Background: Foramen magnum meningiomas represent a challenging clinical entity. Although resection is performed for those with a mass effect, complete resection is not always feasible. For some patients, stereotactic radiosurgery may be used as the primary treatment modality. We evaluatedthe long-term outcome of Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) for the treatment of patientswith a foramen magnum meningioma. Materials and Methods: Between 1991 and 2005, 222 patients with a meningioma in the posterior fossa were treated with GKRS at the University of Virginia. Of these patients, 5 had meningiomas involving the foramen magnum. At the time of GKRS, the median age of the patients was 60 years (range, 51-78). Three patients were treated with radiosurgery following an initial resection and 2 were treated with upfront radiosurgery. The patients were assessed clinically and radiologically at routine intervals following GKRS. Results: The median tumor volume was 6.8 cc (range 1.9-17 cc). The GKRS tumor received a marginal dose of 12 Gy (range 10-15), and the median number of isocenters was 5 (range 3-19). The mean follow-up was 6 years (range 4-13). One lesion increased in size following GKRS requiring a second treatment, resulting in size stabilization. At the time of the last follow-up, all meningiomas had either demonstrated no growth (n = 4) or reduction in size (n = 1). No patients experienced post-radiotherapy complications. Conclusions: GKRS affords a high rate of tumor control and preservation of neurologic function for patients with foramen magnum meningiomas. Further study of its role in the neurosurgical management of such patients seems warranted. |
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