Late considerations in the treatment of low-grade malignancy cerebral tumors with iodine-125 brachytherapy

Appl Neurophysiol. 1987;50(1-6):302-9. doi: 10.1159/000100731.

Abstract

The authors report their series of 45 patients harboring inoperable, low-grade cerebral neoplasms, treated in the past 6 years with 125I stereotactic brachytherapy. The majority of these tumors were grade I and II astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas (82.2%). A 2.6- to 6-year follow-up shows good results in 65.6% with reduction or disappearance of the lesions on CT images and good social reentry. Nine patients (23.7%) died prior to follow-up. Young patients (less than 40 years) responded well to interstitial radiotherapy, while patients over 40 with the same histological findings of low-grade tumors responded poorly to this type of treatment. Diffuse infiltrating cortico-subcortical tumors, optochiasmatic gliomas, hypothalamic and lower brainstem neoplasms do not respond satisfactorily to 125I radioisotope implantations.

MeSH terms

  • Brachytherapy*
  • Brain Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
  • Humans
  • Iodine Radioisotopes / therapeutic use*
  • Stereotaxic Techniques*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Iodine Radioisotopes