The Evaluation of Efficacy and Side Effects of Radiotherapy in Cerebral Meningiomas

Abstract

Aims: The current study aimed to evaluate the efficacy, side effects of radiotherapy and factors influencing treatment outcome in patients received radiotherapy for cerebral meningiomas. Methods and Material: In the last two decades, a total of 35 patients with cerebral meningioma who received radiotherapy in our clinic were evaluated statistically in terms of survival, toxicity and prognostic factors. The records of patients diagnosed with cerebral meningioma who underwent postoperative radiotherapy were retrospectively analyzed. Statistical analysis used: Statistical comparisons were made using IBM SPSS v24.0. Kaplan-Meier method was used to compare survival times. Results: Five of the patients had grade I meningioma showing recurrence, 18 were grade II meningioma and 12 were grade III meningioma. Patients were treated with 54 or 60 Gy adjuvant radiotherapy with 2 Gy daily fractions according to histopathological grade and operation type. Three and five-year overall survival rates were 56% and 40%, respectively and median overall survival was 36 months. Progression was observed in 15 of the 35 patients included in the study. Three and five-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates of the patients were 56% and 50%, respectively. There was a statistically significant correlation between histopathological grade and overall survival among patients. However; no statistical difference found in overall survival of patients in terms of tumor location, operation type and age. Conclusions: In the treatment of cerebral meningiomas, changes in radiotherapy dose and field designs can be predicted according to the tumor grade and operation type. In addition, it is thought that large scale studies are needed to determine prognostic factors more meticulously.