J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  2003 Apr;33(4):363-369.

Gamma Knife Radiosurgery for Skull Base Meningiomas

• Kim JE
• Kim DG
• Chung HT
• Paek SH
• Jung HW

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The authors perform a retrospective analysis of gamma knife radiosurgery(GK-RS) for the treatment of the skull base meningiomas to assess the outcome and complications. METHODS: We reviewed our experience of 55 patients of skull base meningioma in recent 4 year-period. The most frequent locations were cavernous sinus, petroclival area, and cerebellopontine angle. The mean age of the study population was 52 years(range, 15-73). Fifteen patients were operated before GK-RS, and three were treated with operation and postoperative conventional radiation therapy. The median interval between GK-RS and prior treatments was 17 months(range, 1-72). The mean volume of the tumors was 6.5cc(range, 0.5-22.1) and the median GK-RS dose to the prescription volume was 12Gy(range, 7-18). Patients were followed for a median of 18 months(range, 6-38). RESULTS: Thirty one(56%) patients showed clinical improvement. There was no aggravation of preexisting symptoms. Follow-up magnetic resonance images revealed a 95% of local tumor control rate. Six patients developed new neurologic deficits, of which four were transient. Craniotomy following GK-RS was done in one patient of sphenoid ridge meningioma due to enlargement of the cystic portion. There was no case with peritumoral edema after GK-RS. CONCLUSION: Gamma knife radiosurgery for skull base meningiomas offers an acceptable symptomatic control clinically and good local tumor control radiologically with minimal risk to patients unsuited for open surgery. However, long term follow-up is mandatory.

Keyword

Gamma knife; Radiosurgery; Skull base; Meningioma

MeSH Terms

Cavernous Sinus
Cerebellopontine Angle
Craniotomy
Edema
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Meningioma*
Neurologic Manifestations
Prescriptions
Radiosurgery*
Retrospective Studies
Skull Base*
Skull*