Favorable Outcomes of Pediatric Patients Treated With Radiotherapy to the Central Nervous System Who Develop Radiation-Induced Meningiomas

Abstract

To report the outcome of patients treated at the University of Florida who developed meningiomas after radiation to the central nervous system (CNS) for childhood cancer. We retrospectively identified 10 patients aged ≤19 years who received radiotherapy to sites in the craniospinal axis and subsequently developed a meningioma. We report the histology of the radiation-induced meningioma, treatment received, and ultimate outcome among this cohort of patients. Meningioma was diagnosed at a median of 23.5 years after completion of the primary radiation. Fifty percent of second meningiomas were World Health Organization Grade 2 (atypical) or higher. All cases were managed with a single modality: resection alone (n = 7), fractionated radiotherapy (n = 2), and stereotactic radiosurgery (n = 1). The actuarial event-free survival and overall survival rate at 5 years after treatment for a radiation-induced meningioma was 89%. Three patients who underwent resection for retreatment experienced a Grade 3 toxicity. Radiation-induced meningiomas after treatment of pediatric CNS tumors are effectively managed with single-modality therapy. Such late-effect data inform the overall therapeutic ratio and support the continued role of selective irradiation in managing pediatric CNS malignancies.