Radiosurgery
Ewing’s sarcoma
Ewing’s sarcoma
Ewing’s sarcoma: aggressive malignant tumor with a peak incidence during the second decade of life. Spine metastases are more common than primary spine lesions.
Treatment
Treatment is mostly palliative: radical excision followed by RTX (very radiosensitive) and chemotherapy 1).
The use of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is well-accepted 2).
SRS for spine metastases from Ewing sarcoma can be considered as a treatment option in adolescent and young adult patients and is associated with acceptable toxicity rates. Further studies must be conducted to determine long-term local control and toxicity for this treatment modality 3).
Complications
Combined intracranial/extracranial lesions.
see Ewing’s Sarcoma peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor
Case reports
Intradural Extramedullary Ewing’s Sarcoma in the Cervical Region 4).
A 21-year-old woman presenting with quadriplegia which was initially diagnosed with an epidural abscess in view of her MR scan and raised inflammatory marker levels. Histology revealed an epidural extra-osseous Ewing’s sarcoma (EES). Epidural location of EES is a very rare condition which can be very challenging to diagnose. Early diagnosis and surgical excision followed by chemotherapy represent the main stem of management 5).
References
Facial nerve schwannoma
Facial nerve schwannoma
Facial nerve schwannoma may arise in any portion of the facial nerve, with a predilection for the geniculate ganglion 1) 2).
They can occur anywhere from the internal auditory canal to the parotid gland. Schwannomas arising from the greater superficial petrosal nerve are exceedingly rare 3).
Clinical
Even in these tumors, hearing loss tends to precede facial paresis. Hearing loss may be sensorineural from VIII cranial nerve compression from tumors arising in the proximal portion of VII cranial nerve (cisternal or internal auditory canal (IAC) segment), or it may be conductive from erosion of the ossicles by tumors arising in the second (tympanic, or horizontal) segment of VII. Facial palsy (peripheral) may also develop, usually late 4).
Diagnosis
Computed tomography (CT) of the temporal bone is important for evaluating the impact on the surrounding structures 5).
Treatment
Treatment for intracranial facial nerve schwannomas depends on clinical presentation, tumor size, preoperative facial, and hearing function.
Conservative management is recommended for asymptomatic patients with small tumors. Stereotactic radiosurgery may be an option for smaller and symptomatic tumors with good facial function. If tumor is large or the patient has facial paralysis, surgical resection should be indicated. If preservation of the facial nerve is not possible, total resection with nerve grafting should be performed for those patients with facial paralysis, whereas subtotal resection is best for those patients with good facial function 6).
see Middle Fossa Approach for Facial Nerve Schwannoma.
These tumors must be assessed with imaging studies, incisional biopsy is not recommended. The treatment is surgical resection in symptomatic patients with facial paralysis greater than grade III of House-Brackmann, with immediate reconstruction of the nerve 7).
Case series
Facial nerve schwannoma case series.
Case reports
Facial nerve schwannoma case reports.
References
Giant pituitary adenoma
Giant pituitary adenoma
Epidemiology
Giant pituitary adenomas comprise about 6-10% of all pituitary tumors.
It is estimated that 5% of pituitary adenoma become invasive and may grow to gigantic sizes (>4 cm in diameter).
They are mostly clinically non-functioning adenomas and occur predominantly in males 1)
Types
see also Giant somatotroph adenoma.
Clinical
The presenting symptoms are usually secondary to compression of neighboring structures, but also due to partial or total hypopituitarism. Functioning pituitary adenomas give rise to specific symptoms of hormonal hypersecretion.
Treatment
The use of dopamine agonists is considered a first-line treatment in patients with giant macroprolactinomas. Somatostatin analogs can also be used as primary treatment in cases of growth hormone and thyrotropin producing giant adenomas, although remission of the disease is not achieved in the vast majority of these patients.
The intrinsic complexity of these tumors requires the use of different therapies in a combined or sequential way. A multimodal approach and a therapeutic strategy involving a multidisciplinary team of expert professionals form the basis of the therapeutic success in these patients 2).
The main goal of surgical treatment of giant pituitary adenoma is maximum possible tumor extirpation with minimal side effects, which can be achieved by careful preoperative planning of operative approach, based on directions of tumor extensions and invasiveness. Maximal surgical removal of giant adenomas offers best chances to control tumor growth when followed with adjuvant medical and radiation therapies 3).
While the use of endoscopic approaches has become increasingly accepted in the resection of pituitary adenomas, limited evidence exists regarding the success of this technique for patients with large and giant pituitary adenomas.
Major blood supply of giant pituitary adenomas originates from branches of the infraclinoidal portion of the internal carotid artery, different from normal anterior pituitary gland. Surgical route should depend not only on tumor shape and extension but on feeding systems 4).
The main goal of surgical treatment of giant pituitary adenoma is maximum possible tumor extirpation with minimal side effects, which can be achieved by careful preoperative planning of operative approach, based on directions of tumor extensions and invasiveness. Maximal surgical removal of giant adenomas offers best chances to control tumor growth when followed with adjuvant medical and radiation therapies 5).
In cases of progressive enlargement of residual lesions, a second endoscopic debulking of the tumor may be considered for control of the disease 6).
Outcome
Giant pituitary adenomas carry higher surgical risks despite recent advances in microsurgical and/or endoscopic surgery, and postoperative acute catastrophic changes without major vessel disturbance are still extremely difficult to predict, may manifest as postoperative pituitary apoplexy, and are associated with very poor outcomes.
Resection of both large and giant pituitary adenomas by microscopic transsphenoidal surgery may be safe and effective surgical technique with low morbidity and mortality 7).
Case series
References
Radiation necrosis treatment
Radiation necrosis treatment
Radiation necrosis (RN) will be increasingly encountered due to the widespread use of SRS. Symptomatic RN can cause significant morbidity and should be managed pro-actively. There is no single modality which can reliably distinguish RN from recurrent tumor, and a multi-modal approach is often required. For patients with symptomatic RN, oral corticosteroid therapy and bevacizumab are both effective. A minority of patients, with an unclear diagnosis, or refractory symptoms, will require surgical resection. As RN proves to be a challenging condition to diagnose and manage, risk factor mitigation becomes important in clinical decision making 1).
Using the internal database for pharmaceutical products, all patients who received BEV in the University of Munich were identified. Only patients who received BEV as symptomatic treatment for radiation necrosis were included. Patient characteristics, symptoms before, during, and after treatment, and the use of dexamethasone were evaluated using medical reports and systematic internal documentation. The symptoms were graded using CTCAE version 5.0 for general neurological symptoms. Symptoms were graded directly before each cycle and after the treatment (approximately 6 weeks). Additionally, the daily steroid dose was collected at these timepoints. Patients who either improved in symptoms, received less dexamethasone after treatment, or both were considered to have a benefit from the treatment.
Twenty-one patients who received BEV due to radiation necrosis were identified. For 10 patients (47.6%) symptoms improved and 11 patients (52.4%) remained clinically stable during the treatment. In 14 patients (66.7%) the dexamethasone dose could be reduced during therapy, 5 patients (23.8%) received the same dose of dexamethasone before and after the treatment, and 2 patients (9.5%) received a higher dose at the end of the treatment. According to this analysis, overall, 19 patients (90.5%) benefited from the treatment with BEV. No severe adverse effects were reported.
BEV might be an effective and safe therapeutic option for patients with radiation necrosis as a complication after cranial radiation therapy. Patients seem to benefit from this treatment by improving symptomatically or through reduction of dexamethasone 2).
Perez-Torres et al. validated the VEGF specificity by comparing the therapeutic efficacy of anti-VEGF with non-specific isotype control antibody. Additionally, they found that VEGF over-expression and radionecrosis developed simultaneously, which precludes preventative anti-VEGF treatment 3).
References
Gamma Knife radiosurgery for trigeminal neuralgia
Gamma Knife radiosurgery for trigeminal neuralgia
Gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) is one of the alternatives for treatment for classical trigeminal neuralgia (TN).
The first use of SRS by Lars Leksell was for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. Initially, this was reserved for refractory cases following multiple operations 1).
The Leksell Gamma Knife and the Accuray CyberKnife systems have been used in the radiosurgical treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. The 2 techniques use different delivery methods and different treatment parameters. In the past, CyberKnife treatments have been associated with an increased incidence of treatment-related complications, such as facial numbness.
CyberKnife radiosurgical parameters can be optimized to mimic the dose distribution of Gamma Knife plans. However, Gamma Knife plans result in superior sparing of critical structures (brainstem, temporal lobe,and cranial nerves VII and VIII) and in steeper dose fall off away from the target. The clinical significance of these effects is unknown 2).
Indications
Generally recommended for patients with co-morbidities, high-risk medical illness, pain refractory to prior surgical procedures, or those on anticoagulants (anticoagulation does not have to be reversed to have SRS).
Mechanism
Treatment plan
4 -5 mm isocenter in the trigeminal nerve root entry zone identified on MRI. Use 70–80 Gy at the center, keeping the 80% isodose curve outside of the brainstem.
Results: Significant pain reduction after initial SRS: 80–96% 3) 4) 5) 6) but only ≈ 65% become pain free. Median latency to pain relief: 3 months (range: 1 d-13 months) 7).
Recurrent pain occurs with in three years in 10–25%. Patients with TN and multiple sclerosis are less likely to respond to SRS than those without MS. SRS can be repeated, but only after four months following the original procedure.
Outcome
Repeat Radiosurgery for Trigeminal Neuralgia
Case series
A total of 263 patients contributed by 9 member tertiary referral Gamma Knife centers (2 in Canada and 7 in USA) of the International Gamma Knife Research Consortium (IGKRF) constituted this study.
The median latency period of Facial pain response (PR) after SRS was 1 mo. Reasonable pain control (Barrow Neurological Institute Pain Scale I-IIIb) was achieved in 232 patients (88.2%). The median maintenance period from SRS was 14.1 months (range, 10 days to 10 years). The actuarial reasonable pain control maintenance rates at 1 yr, 2 yr, and 4 yr were 54%, 35%, and 24%, respectively. There was a correlation between the status of achieving BNI-I and the maintenance of facial pain recurrence-free rate. The median recurrence-free rate was 36 mo and 12.2 mo in patients achieving BNI-I and BNI > I, respectively (P = .046). Among 210 patients with known status of post-SRS complications, the new-onset of facial numbness (BNI-I or II) after SRS occurred in 21 patients (10%).
In this largest series SRS offers a reasonable benefit to risk profile for patients who have exhausted medical management. More favorable initial response to SRS may predict a long-lasting pain control 8).
2016
One hundred seventeen patients with medically refractory TN treated by GKRS at the Department of Functional Neurosurgery and Gamma Knife Radiosurgery, and Department of Neurology, Ruber International Hospital, Madrid, Spain were followed up between 1993 and 2011. Mean maximum dose was 86.5 Gy (range: 80-90 Gy; median: 90 Gy). Clinical response was defined based on the Burchiel classification. They considered classes I and II as a complete response. For toxicity, they use the Barrow Neurological Institute Pain Scale. Mean duration of follow-up was 66 months (range: 24-171 months).
Complete response at last follow-up in our patients was 81%, with an excellent response while off medication in 52%. Pain-free rates without medication (class I) were 85% at 3 years (confidence interval [CI]: 78%-94%), 81% at 5 years (CI: 72%-91%), and 76% at 7 years (CI: 65%-90%). Complete response rates (classes I-II) were 91% at 3 years (CI: 86%-97%), 86% at 5 years (CI: 79%-93%), and 82% at 7 years (CI: 72%-93%). Poor treatment response rates differed significantly between patients who had undergone previous surgery and were refractory to management with medication prior to GKRS. New or worsening facial numbness was reported in 32.5% (30% score II and 2.5% score III). No anesthesia dolorosa was reported. Permanent recurrence pain rate was 12%.
GKRS achieved favorable outcomes compared with surgery in terms of pain relief and complication rates in our cohort of patients, notwithstanding decreasing pain-free survival rates over time. They consider GKRS to be an initial treatment in the management of medically intractable TN in selected patients 9).
In a single-center, retrospective comparative study, 202 patients with MS and concomitant TN were evaluated. A minimum follow-up of 24 months was required. Patients with a history of microvascular decompression or previous intervention were excluded. There were 78 PBC procedures performed and 124 first-dosage GKRS procedures for a total of 202 patients between February 2009 and December 2013. The PBC procedures were successfully completed in all cases. The two groups were compared with regards to initial effect, duration of effect, and rate of complication(s), including the type and severity of the complication(s).
Immediate pain relief resulted in 87% of patients treated with PBC and in 23% of patients treated with GKRS. The Kaplan-Meier plots for the two treatment modalities were similar. The 50% recurrence rate was at 12 months for the PBC and 18 months for the GKRS. The rates of complication (excluding numbness) were 3% for GKRS and 21% for PBC. The difference was statistically significant (Chi-square test, p = 0.03).
PBC and GKRS are effective techniques for the treatment of TN in patients with MS, with GKRS presenting fewer complications and superior long-term relief. For these reasons, we consider GKRS as the first option for the treatment of TN in MS patients, reserving PBC for patients with acute, intractable pain 10).
Case reports
A 72-year-old -female presented with trigeminal neuralgia (TN) and radiological evidence of neurovascular compression on the affected side. She had complete resolution of her pain for 7 years after treatment with GKRS. The patient experienced recurrence and underwent repeat GKRS, this time resulting in another 3 years of pain relief. After the second recurrence, repeat intracranial imaging demonstrated resolution of neurovascular compression.
GKRS is an important treatment option for TN, although the mechanisms behind pain relief from this procedure still remain unclear. While prior histological and radiological studies point to ablative mechanisms for pain relief, this case report suggests that GKRS may result in a decompressive effect in TN due to changes in neurovascular architecture. Despite this finding, TN is known to occur and recur in the absence of neurovascular compression; thus, further work is necessary to understand the etiology of TN and its treatments.
In this case, Moosa et al. demonstrated that vessel-nerve relationships may change over time in TN patients treated with GKRS, which raises the possibility that GKRS could release a neurovascular compression 11).
References
Spinal cord hemangioblastoma treatment
Spinal cord hemangioblastoma treatment
Although radiosurgery has been used to treat multiple hemangioblastoma, particularly in the cerebellum, complete microsurgical removal is the treatment of choice for spinal cord hemangioblastoma 1).
Partial resection or biopsy may cause postoperative bleeding and should therefore not be performed. Bleeding during dissection, due to the vascularity of HBs, increases the risk of adverse events.
A minimally invasive approach for the resection of selected spinal hemangioblastomas is safe and allows complete tumor resection with good clinical results in experienced hands 2).
They are almost always associated with a syrinx or significant edema.
Cases associated with edema and syrinx are more space-occupying than those only with solid part of the tumor. Consequently, the mass effect producing neurological symptoms derives from the cyst rather than the tumor itself. On the removal of hemangioblastomas in association with a syrinx, the syrinx is spontaneously opened and always stops growing and usually regresses in size. Thus, the additional opening of the syrinx or surgical removal of the syrinx is not necessary 3).
Preceding Embolization
Although some investigators recommend preoperative embolization, 4) 5) in the series of Harati et al. it was usually not necessary to achieve complete resection 6). This is in concordance to several other series so that preoperative embolization is generally not recommended 7) 8) 9) 10) 11). To prevent intraoperative bleeding in selected cases, temporary artery occlusion was performed. This technique is described in detail by Clark et al.12).
Fluorescent dye
As vascular tumors, intramedullary hemangioblastomas are associated with significant intraoperative blood loss, making them particularly challenging clinical entities. The use of intraoperative indocyanine green or other fluorescent dyes has previously been described to avoid breaching the tumor capsule, but improved surgical outcomes may result from identifying and ligating the feeder arteries and arterialized draining veins.
Molina et al. presented a written and media illustration of a technique for intraoperative indocyanine green use in the en bloc resection of intramedullary hemangioblastoma 13).
Radiosurgery
Cyberknife radiosurgery has proven to be safe in the treatment of spinal HBs 14). However, as radiographic regression was achieved in only 22%, microsurgical resection remains the gold standard for spinal HBs that are clearly symptomatic or have developed radiographic progression in size, spinal cord edema, or syrinx 15) 16) 17).
References
Lactotroph adenoma radiosurgery
Lactotroph adenoma radiosurgery
Lactotroph adenoma radiosurgery also serves as an option for those refractory to medical and surgical therapy 1).
GKRS plays a significant role in the treatment of non-functioning [NFA] and hormonal-active [HAA] pituitary adenoma. It affords high rate of tumor control and offers low risk of collateral neurological or endocrine axis injury. A study showed that control of tumor growth was achieved in 90% patients, shrinkage of tumor in 54% and arrest of progression in 36% cases after GKRS treatment. The biochemical remission rate in GH secreting adenoma was 57%, ACTH adenoma was 67% and prolactinoma was 40%. Age less than 50 years and tumor volume less than 5cm3 were associated with a favourable radiosurgical outcome 2).
Case series
A retrospective study included lactotroph adenoma treated with SRS between 1997 and 2016 at ten institutions. Patients’ clinical and treatment parameters were investigated. Patients were considered to be in endocrine remission when they had a normal level of prolactin (PRL) without requiring dopamine agonist medications. Endocrine control was defined as endocrine remission or a controlled PRL level ≤ 30 ng/ml with dopamine agonist therapy. Other outcomes were evaluated including new-onset hormone deficiency, tumor recurrence, and new neurological complications.
The study cohort comprised 289 patients. The endocrine remission rates were 28%, 41%, and 54% at 3, 5, and 8 years after SRS, respectively. Following SRS, 25% of patients (72/289) had new hormone deficiency. Sixty-three percent of the patients (127/201) with available data attained endocrine control. Three percent of patients (9/269) had a new visual complication after SRS. Five percent of the patients (13/285) were recorded as having tumor progression. A pretreatment PRL level ≤ 270 ng/ml was a predictor of endocrine remission (p = 0.005, adjusted HR 0.487). An increasing margin dose resulted in better endocrine control after SRS (p = 0.033, adjusted OR 1.087).
In patients with medically refractory prolactinomas or a residual/recurrent prolactinoma, SRS affords remarkable therapeutic effects in endocrine remission, endocrine control, and tumor control. New-onset hypopituitarism is the most common adverse event 3).
2015
Radiotherapy as an alternative and adjuvant treatment for prolactinomas has been performed at the Department of Radiation Oncology, Prince of Wales Cancer Centre, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, with the linear accelerator since 1990.
In a retrospective review of 13 patients managed with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and 5 managed with fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT), as well as 5 managed with conventional radiotherapy, at the Prince of Wales Hospital. Patients with a histopathologically diagnosed prolactinoma were eligible. Those patients who had a confirmed pathological diagnosis of prolactinoma following surgical intervention, a prolactin level elevated above 500 μg/L, or a prolactin level persistently elevated above 200 μg/L with exclusion of other causes were represented in this review.
At the end of documented follow-up (SRS median 6 years, FSRT median 2 years), no SRS patients showed an increase in tumour volume. After FSRT, 1 patient showed an increase in size, 2 showed a decrease in size and 2 patients showed no change. Prolactin levels trended towards improvement after SRS and FSRT, but no patients achieved the remission level of <20 μg/L. Seven of 13 patients in the SRS group achieved a level of <500 μg/L, whereas no patients reached this target after FSRT.
A reduction in prolactin level is frequent after SRS and FSRT for prolactinomas; however, true biochemical remission is uncommon. Tumour volume control in this series was excellent, but this may be related to the natural history of the disease. Morbidity and mortality after stereotactic radiation were very low in this series 4).
Cohen-Inbar et al., reviewed the outcome of patients with medically and surgically refractory prolactinomas treated with Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) during a 22 years follow-up period.
They reviewed the patient database at the University of Virginia Gamma Knife center during a 25-year period (1989-2014), identifying 38 patients having neurosurgical, radiological and endocrine follow-up.
Median age at GKRS treatment was 43 years. Median follow-up was 42.3 months (range 6-207.9). 55.3 % (n = 21) were taking a dopamine agonist at time of GKRS. 63.2 % (n = 24) had cavernous sinus tumor invasion. Endocrine remission (normal serum prolactin off of a dopamine agonist) was achieved in 50 % (n = 19). GKRS induced hypopituitarism occurred in 30.3 % (n = 10). Cavernous sinus involvement was shown to be a significant negative prognosticator of endocrine remission. Taking a dopamine agonist drug at the time of GKRS showed a tendency to decrease the probability for endocrine remission.
GKRS for refractory prolactinomas can lead to endocrine remission in many patients. Hypopituitarism is the most common side effect of GKRS 5).
2013
evaluated the efficacy of Gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery (GKSR) as an adjunctive management modality for patients with drug resistant or intolerant cavernous sinus invasive prolactinomas. Twenty-two patients with cavernous sinus invasive prolactinoma underwent GKSR between 1994 and 2009. Thirteen patients were dopamine agonist (DA) resistant. Six patients were intolerant to DA. Three patients chose GKSR as their initial treatment modality in hopes they might avoid life long suppression medication. The median tumor volume was 3.0 cm3 (range 0.3–11.6). The marginal tumor dose (median= 15 Gy, range 12–25 Gy) prescribed was based on the dose delivered to the optic apparatus. The median follow-up interval was 36 months (range, 12–185). Endocrine normalization was defined as a normal serum prolactin level off DA (cure) or on DA. Endocrine improvement was defined asa decreased but still elevated serum prolactin level. Endocrine deterioration was defined as an increased serum prolactin level. Endocrine normalization was achieved in six(27.3%) patients. Twelve (54.5%) patients had endocrine improvement. Four patients (18.2%) developed delayed increased prolactin. Imaging-defined local tumor control was achieved in 19 (86.4%) patients, 12 of whom had tumor regression. Three patients had a delayed tumor progression and required additional management. One patient developed a new pituitary axis deficiency after GKSR. Invasive prolactinomas continue to pose management challenges. GKSR is a non invasive adjunctive option that may reduce prolactin levels in patients who are resistant to or intolerant of suppression medication. In a minority of cases, patients may no longer require long term suppression therapy 6).
2006
Twenty-three patients were included in analysis of endocrine outcomes (median and average follow-up of 55 and 58 mo, respectively) and 28 patients were included in analysis of imaging outcomes (median and average follow-up of 48 and 52 mo, respectively). Twenty-six percent of patients achieved a normal serum prolactin (remission) with an average time of 24.5 months. Remission was significantly associated with being off of a dopamine agonist at the time of GKRS and a tumor volume less than 3.0 cm3 (P < 0.05 for both). Long-term image-based volumetric control was achieved in 89% of patients. Complications included new pituitary hormone deficiencies in 28% of patients and cranial nerve palsy in two patients (7%).
Clinical remission in 26% of treated patients is a modest result. However, because the GKRS treated tumors were refractory to other therapies and because complication rates were low, GKRS should be part of the armamentarium for treating refractory prolactinomas. Patients with tumors smaller than 3.0 cm3 and who are not receiving dopamine agonist at the time of treatment will likely benefit most 7).
2000
Twenty patients with prolactinomas were followed after GKS. Five patients were treated successfully; their prolactin (PRL) levels dropped into the normal range and dopaminergic drugs could be discontinued. Two spontaneous pregnancies were observed and 11 patients experienced improvement. Improvement was defined as normal PRL levels with the continued possibility of reduced medical treatment or a substantially reduced medical treatment dose with some degree of hyperprolactinemia maintained. The treatment failed in three patients who experienced no improvement. Patients treated with dopaminergic drugs during GKS did significantly less well in comparison with the untreated group when a cumulative distribution function (Kaplan-Meier estimate) was used. CONCLUSIONS:
The results of GKS for prolactinomas in this investigation are better than the results published by others. This may be an effect of case selection because there were no “salvage cases” in our group of patients. Because a dopamine agonist seemed to induce radioprotection in this series, it is suggested that GKS be performed during an intermission in drug therapy when the dopamine agonist is discontinued 8).
References
Gamma knife radiosurgery for trigeminal neuralgia mechanism
Gamma knife radiosurgery for trigeminal neuralgia mechanism
Gamma Knife radiosurgery for trigeminal neuralgia (GKRS) is a noninvasive surgical treatment option. The long-term microstructural consequences of radiosurgery and their association with pain relief remain unclear.
Studies focusing on the electrophysiology properties of partially demyelinated trigeminal nerves submitted to radiosurgery are vital to truly advance our current knowledge in the field 1).
To better understand this topic, Shih-Ping Hung et al., used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to characterize the effects of GKRS on trigeminal nerve microstructure over multiple posttreatment time points.
Ninety-two sets of 3-T anatomical and diffusion weighted MR images from 55 patients with TN treated by GKRS were divided within 6-, 12-, and 24-month posttreatment time points into responder and nonresponder subgroups (≥ 75% and < 75% reduction in posttreatment pain intensity, respectively). Within each subgroup, posttreatment pain intensity was then assessed against pretreatment levels and followed by DTI metric analyses, contrasting treated and contralateral control nerves to identify specific biomarkers of successful pain relief.
GKRS resulted in successful pain relief that was accompanied by asynchronous reductions in fractional anisotropy (FA), which maximized 24 months after treatment. While GKRS responders demonstrated significantly reduced FA within the radiosurgery target 12 and 24 months posttreatment (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively), nonresponders had statistically indistinguishable DTI metrics between nerve types at each time point.
Ultimately, this study serves as the first step toward an improved understanding of the long-term microstructural effect of radiosurgery on TN. Given that FA reductions remained specific to responders and were absent in nonresponders up to 24 months posttreatment, FA changes have the potential of serving as temporally consistent biomarkers of optimal pain relief following radiosurgical treatment for classic TN 2).
Histopathology examination of the trigeminal nerve in humans after radiosurgery is rarely performed and has produced controversial results.
There is evidence of histological damage of the trigeminal nerve fibers after radiosurgery therapy. Whether or not the presence and degree of nerve damage correlate with the degree of clinical benefit and side effects are not revealed and need to be explored in future studies 3).
Existing studies leave important doubts as to optimal treatment doses or the therapeutic target, long-term recurrence, and do not help identify which subgroups of patients could most benefit from this technique 4).