Posttreatment toxicity following single-fraction versus multifraction hypofractionated stereotactic radiosurgery for larger meningiomas.

Objective: Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) has been used to manage patients with intracranial meningioma with contraindications to resection. Limitations to SRS traditionally include tumors > 3 cm due to the risk of posttreatment toxicity. Hypofractionated SRS (hSRS) has been proposed as an alternative for tumors exceeding volume constraints for single-fraction SRS, although how hypofractionation affects the volume versus toxicity relationship has not been reported. Thus, the authors conducted a single-institution retrospective analysis of the medical records of patients receiving single-fraction SRS or multifraction hSRS for large (> 2 cm) meningiomas to assess the effect of hypofractionation on the likelihood of posttreatment toxicity.

Methods: Patients were identified using the Wake Forest University Department of Radiation Oncology prospectively administered Gamma Knife database. Patients were included if they had single-fraction SRS or multifraction hSRS for a diagnosis of meningioma that was > 2 cm. Analysis was limited to tumor volumes between 2.7 and 49.3 cm3, the overlapping range shared by those undergoing hSRS or SRS. Electronic medical records were used to determine patient and tumor characteristics and clinical outcomes.

Results: A total of 121 SRS cases with a median dose of 12 Gy and 51 hSRS cases with a median dose of 20 Gy with tumor volumes between 2.7 and 49.3 cm3 were identified and included in the analysis. The probabilities of freedom from local failure at 1, 3, and 5 years were 87.0%, 79.0%, and 63.6%, respectively, for patients receiving single-fraction SRS and 96.0%, 91.0%, and 91.0%, respectively, for patients receiving multifraction hSRS. The probabilities of overall survival at 1, 3, and 5 years were 97.5%, 79.7%, and 72.6%, respectively, for patients receiving single-fraction SRS and 85.5%, 80.9%, and 76.4%, respectively, for patients receiving multifraction hSRS. Eighteen (14.9%) of 121 patients receiving single-fraction SRS experienced Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) grade ≥ 2 toxicity, and 12 (23.5%) of 51 patients receiving multifraction hSRS experienced CTCAE grade ≥ 2 toxicity.

Conclusions: When controlling for tumor volume, despite higher treatment doses in the hSRS group relative to the SRS group, posttreatment toxicity was not significantly different between the groups, and freedom from local failure was improved in the hSRS group. For patients with larger meningiomas, multifraction hSRS may help to limit the risk of posttreatment edema and toxicity, while maintaining acceptable freedom from local failure.