Pineal region tumors: results of radiation therapy and indications for elective spinal irradiation. [/sup 60/Co; x ray]

Journal Article · Fri May 01 04:00:00 UTC 1981 · Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0360-3016(81)90374-6· OSTI ID:6460631

Griffin, B R; Griffin, T W; Tong, D Y.K.; Russell, A H; Kurtz, J; Laramore, G E; Groudine, M

Eighteen patients with pineal region tumors seen from November 1960 to November 1978 were reviewed. Thirteen patients treated with radiation therapy received tumor doses in the 4000 to 5500 rad range. The five year survival and five year disease-free survival were 73 and 63% respectively. Spinal cord metastasis occurred in 2 of 13 (15%) patients. Attempts at salvage radiotherapy for these patients were unsuccessful. Computerized tomography (CT) scan provides an excellent method of evaluating the response of pineal region tumors to radiation. Rapid regression of the tumor mass on CT scan reflects the highly radioresponsive nature of germinomas, the tumor type most likely to disseminate throughout the neuraxis. This principle can be exploited to select unbiopsied patients with a high risk of spinal cord metastasis for prophylactic spinal radiation at an early stage of treatment.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Washington Hospital, Seattle
• OSTI ID: 6460631
• Journal Information: Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 7:5; ISSN IOBPD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550603* -- Medicine-- External Radiation in Therapy-- (1980-)
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BODY
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
COBALT 60
COBALT ISOTOPES
COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DIAGNOSTIC USES
DISEASES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EVALUATION
GAMMA RADIATION
GLANDS
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
INTERNAL CONVERSION RADIOISOTOPES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
IRRADIATION
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LOCAL IRRADIATION
MEDICINE
METASTASES
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
NEOPLASMS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
ORGANS
PINEAL GLAND
RADIATIONS
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIOLOGY
RADIOTHERAPY
SPINAL CORD
THERAPY
TOMOGRAPHY
USES
X RADIATION
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES