Curative effect of stereotactic 186Re endocavitary irradiation on cystic craniopharyngioma

Abstract

To evaluate the treatment results of stereotactic (186)Re intracavitary irradiation in the patients with craniopharyngioma. Nineteen patients were treated with stereotactic (186)Re intracavitary irradiation, including 12 males and 7 females (average age, 37.2 years). Among them 12 patients had a solitary cyst, whereas 7 patients with mixed structure (e.g., a large cyst with a small solid portion). The mean volume of the cystic portion of the tumor before irradiation was 8390 mm(3). The patients were followed up for 6 months to 3 years. The retraction of the cyst was complete in 7 patients, cyst volume decreased more than 50% in 5 patients and less than 50% in 7 cases. Among the 8 patients with visual acuity deficit before irradiation, 5 were improved. No hypopituitarism occurred in patients with normal pituitary function before treatment. One of the 4 patients with hypopituitarism was improved, 3 of the 5 patients with diabetes insipidus was improved. Stereotactic (186)Re endocavitary irradiation for the treatment of cystic craniopharyngioma is a safe and effective procedure.