Interstitial brachytherapy with iodine-125 seeds for low grade brain stem gliomas in adults: Diagnostic and therapeutic intervention in a one-step procedure

William Omar Contreras Lopez, Michael Trippel, Soroush Doostkam, Thomas Reithmeier

Research output: Articles / NotesScientific Articlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: To report on iodine-125 (I125) interstitial irradiation in the treatment of low grade brain stem gliomas in adults. Patients and methods: Ten patients with well-circumscribed lesions of the brainstem and histological confirmation of low grade glioma treated with stereotactically implanted I-125 seed in our department between 1995 and 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: In 9 patients the lesion was treated with one I-125 seed and in one patient, 2 spatial separated lesions were implanted, therefore a total of 11 I-125 seeds were implanted. The mean volume of the 11 lesions was 2.76 ml (range: 0.5-7.2 ml), mean activity of the seeds was 6.23 mCi (range: 1.5-11.1 mCi), mean duration of irradiation was 28.5 days (range: 21-41 days) and mean effective dose rate was 9.16 cGy/h (range: 6.2-12 cGy/h). The 30 days perioperative morbidity and mortality rate was 0%. Median follow up was 72.5 month (range 5-168 months). Six of ten patients were free of progression until last follow up. Conclusion: In our experience at the University Clinic in Freiburg Germany, interstitial radiosurgery based on MRI is a safe and effective method to diagnose and treat low grade gliomas of the brain stem. Furthermore randomized studies are needed to confirm the therapeutic impact of this method in comparison to external beam radiation of brain stem gliomas.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1451-1456
Number of pages6
JournalClinical Neurology and Neurosurgery
Volume115
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2013
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Interstitial brachytherapy
  • Iodine-125 seeds
  • Isodose distribution
  • Low grade brainstem gliomas in adults
  • Radioactive isotopes and radiation dose
  • University Clinic Freiburg Germany

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