A prospective evaluation of health-related quality of life after skull base re-irradiation

Purpose: To report cancer control outcomes and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes after highly conformal skull-based re-irradiation (re-RT).

Methods: Patients planned for curative intent re-RT to a recurrent or new skull base tumor were enrolled. HRQoL were assessed using the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory Brain Tumor (MDASI-BT) and the anterior skull base surgery quality of life (ASBQ) questionnaires.

Results: Thirty-nine patients were treated with stereotactic body RT or intensity modulated RT. Median follow-up was 14 months. Progression free survival was 71% at 1-year. There was mild clinically significant worsening of fatigue, lack of appetite and drowsiness (MDASI-BT), and physical function (ASBQ) at the end of RT, followed by recovery to baseline on subsequent follow-ups. Subjective emotions were clinically improved at 12 months, with patients reporting feeling less tense/nervous.

Conclusion: Conformal skull base re-RT is associated with mild immediate deterioration in physical function followed by rapid and sustained recovery.