EVALUATION OF RADIOSURGICAL TREATMENT IN PATIENTS WITH CRANIOPHARYNGIOMAS

Abstract

Purpose: The goal of this study is to demonstrate the beneficial results of Stereotactic radiosurgery (RCE) when it comes to the treatment of Craniopharyngioma (CRF) regarding tumor growth rate control. Methods: It has been studied retrospectively, 40 charts collected of patients with CRF submitted to RCE. The method used at it was the retrospective analysis of those patient charts from two São Paulo hospitals – treated in their Radiotherapy and Radiosurgery, period of 1994 to 2018. After CRF and it’s treatment being analyzed and compared, by gender, age, besides previous treatment with surgery, visual loss and/or visual difficulties presented before the RCE, tumor volume of cm³ before RCE, lower rate of reduction of volume of the lesion after RCE and presence of cystic formation. Results: Thus, after charts observing, the analysis is that the treatment of CRF with RCE is similar in both genders, there is no difference between them, there is lower relapse rate and cystic formation compared to previous surgery, besides, occasioning tumor reduction. Conclusions: The RCE is an adequate method to treat CRF, providing lower rates of complications, absence of mortality and improvement in the control of tumor growth, showing to be effective mainly in decreasing smaller volume tumors. Is also possible to conclude that patients submitted to previous surgery are more likely to present cystic formation.