THREE-DIMENSIONAL CONFORMAL RADIATION THERAPY IN GLIOMAS
C. Kurtman*, C. Akfirat, M.N. Andrieu, A. Hicsonmez
Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical Faculty of Ankara University, Cebeci Hospital, Ankara 06100, Turkey
Abstract. Objective: the work is aimed on determination of the prognostic factors in patients with brain gliomas following three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3-D CRT). Methods: between 1998–2001, we treated 28 patients (median age — 47.5 years) with 3-D CRT. 16 patients had total and 12 — partial tumor resection. Histology revealed low-grade — in 9 patients and high-grade gliomas — in 19 patients. 17 patients had a Karnofsky Performans Status (KPS) score ≥ 80, and 11 patients < 80. There were 7 local recurrences before 3D-CRT. All patients received a mean total dose of 59.64 Gy with 3-D CRT emcompassing the margins described as in ICRU 50 reports according to preoperative enhanced computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging. Mean follow-up was 16 months. Results: mean survival was 25.6 months, and 3 years survival rate — 55%. Univariate analysis revealed that age ≤ 50 years; KPS score ≥ 80; histologically proven low-grade status and no recurrence before 3D-CRT predicted significantly higher survival probability. There was one late radiation necrosis 12 months after radiotherapy. Conclusion: these results suggest that 3-D CRT was well tolerated, and age, KPS, grade and previous recurrence have significance importance on survival.
