Cerebellar medulloblastoma: the importance of posterior fossa dose to survival and patterns of failure

Journal Article · Mon Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1982 · Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0360-3016(82)90443-6· OSTI ID:5216322

Silverman, C L; Simpson, J R

Fifty patients with biopsy-proven cerebellar medulloblastoma were retrospectively analyzed for prognostic factors, survival and patterns of failure. Five- and ten-year actuarial survivals for the entire group were 51% and 42%. Survival and local control were significantly better for the 21 patients who received doses greater that 5000 rad to the posterior fossa (85% and 80% respectively) than for the remaining patients (38% and 38%, respectively). Significant prognostic factors included achievement of local control in the posterior fossa (p = .0001) and dose to the posterior fossa (p = .0005). Sex, age, duration of symptoms, extent of surgery and initial T-stage of disease were not significant. Posterior fossa was the predominant site of failure (71% of failures), but 10% of patients failed in the cerebrum and 12% outside the CNS. This experience confirms that survival rates of 70-80% are achievable with current treatment policies but accurate and consistent dose delivery to the posterior fossa is essential.

• Research Organization: Washington Univ. School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
• OSTI ID: 5216322
• Journal Information: Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States), Vol. 8:11
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
CEREBELLUM
EXTERNAL IRRADIATION
NEOPLASMS
RADIOTHERAPY
RADIATION DOSES
EVALUATION
FAILURES
METASTASES
PATIENTS
SURVIVAL TIME
BODY
BRAIN
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
DISEASES
DOSES
IRRADIATION
MEDICINE
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NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANS
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550603* - Medicine- External Radiation in Therapy- (1980-)