• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.849-854
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• 2001

Delayed cerebral infarction after resection of craniopharyngioma is a uncommon entity, but leads to high morbidity and mortality. We present 3 such cases and discuss the etiology and pathogenesis with review of pertinent literatures. In our cases, delayed deterioration of consciousness was observed in all cases. All of them expired. The cause may be multifactorial and the surgical approach may contribute to the pathogenesis of delayed cerebral infarction. We suspect vasospasm might be the major mechanism of pathogenesis. Vessels were primed to spasm during operation due to blood in the cistern or mechanical injury. Vasoactive materials may have been liberated from the pituitary stalk or injured hypothalamus, either at the time of surgery, or later, after portions of tumor have undergone necrosis. The high degree of suspicion to detect vasospasm should be done in the case of the delayed deterioration of mental status at an early stage of craniopharyngioma surgery. Possible mechanism underlying this delayed cerebral infarction are discussed.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.472-478
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• 2001

Objectives : The authors present a retrospective analysis of 100 consecutive adult patients harboring craniopharyngiomas who underwent microsurgical resection between 1981 and 1999 to assess the long-term outcome of surgical treatment and to determine the most optimal management strategy. Methods : The extent of surgical removal was divided into four categories ; GTR(gross total removal), RSTR(radical subtotal removal), STR(subtotal removal),and PR(partial removal). The median follow-up period was 50 months(4-198). CT scan and/or MR imaging and hormonal status were evaluated to the last follow-up. Results : Visual disturbance was the most common presentation, which was improved in 42 cases and aggravated in 19 cases following the operation. Hypopituitarism was detected in 56 patients preoperatively, 82 during the immediate postoperative period, and 76 at the last follow-up. Improvement of pituitary function was not observed in any of these patients. Twenty of 100 patients showed recurrence at the mean of 27 months(3 to 196). The median progression-free survival(PFS) time of all patients was 145 months and 5-year PFS rate was 74%. Five-year PFS rate of GTR or RSTR group(71%) was significantly higher than that of STR or PR group(30%)(p=0.01). Postoperative radiation therapy significantly prolonged the PFS from 94 months in non-radiation group to 182 months(p=0.002). However, there was no statistical difference in number of patients who required hormonal replacement therapy between radiation and non-radiation group. Conclusion : Visual disturbance can be improved by early diagnosis and surgical decompression. GTR or RSTR in selected patients is considered a proper surgical strategy. Post-operative radiation therapy for residual tumors must be considered, although the ideal timing of radiation therapy is to be determined.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.65-73
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• 2007

Purpose : Short stature is an important complication that impairs the quality of life in survivors of childhood brain tumors. We studied their final adult height (FAH) to evaluate risk factors for short stature. Methods : We reviewed the medical data of 95 survivors of childhood brain tumors (64 males and 31 females) who had been followed up from 1982 to 2006, reached FAH, and had a more than five year-disease-free survival. Results : Final adult height standard deviation score (FAHTSDS: $mean{\pm}SD$) of the patients was lower than those of general population ($-1.15{\pm}1.72$), HTSDS at diagnosis ($-0.13{\pm}1.57$), and target HTSDS ($-0.49{\pm}0.69$). FAHTSDS of craniopharyngioma patients did not decrease ($0.57{\pm}1.17$), but those of germ cell tumor and medulloblastoma patients were significantly reduced ($-1.20{\pm}1.45$, $-2.70{\pm}1.46$; P<0.05). The patients treated with craniospinal radiation or chemotherapy had lower FAHTSDS ($-1.93{\pm}1.58$, $-2.27{\pm}1.44$; P<0.01). In the spinal irradiation group, the younger the age at diagnosis was, the more the loss of FAH (r=0.442, P<0.01). Growth hormone replacement (GHR) didn't improve FAHTSDS, but starting GHR under 12 years was an independent factor for improving FAH once treatment methods were taken into account (P=0.01). Conclusion : The younger age at diagnosis, spinal radiation and chemotherapy were all important risk factors of height loss, and height gain was expected in patients who received GHR under the age of 12 years. Therefore, regular check-ups of growth and early intervention with growth hormones are needed for high risk groups to improve FAH.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.241-247
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• 1993

Between July 1988 and December 1992, we treated 45 patients who had deep seated inoperable or residual and/or recurrent intracranial tumors using LINAC based stereotactic radiosurgery at the Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic University Medical College. Treated intracranial tumors included pituitary tumors (n=15), acoustic neurinomas (n=8), meningiomas (n=7), gliomas (n=6), craniopharyngiomas (n=4), pinealomas (n=3), hemangioblastomas (n=2), and solitary metastatic tumor from lung cancer (n=1). The dimension of treatment field varied from 0.23 to 42.88 $cm^3\;(mean;\;7.26\;cm^3)$. The maximum tumor doses ranging from 5 to 35.5 Gy (mean; 29.9 Gy) were given, and depended on patients' age, target volume, location of lesion and previous history of irradiation. There were 22 male and 23 female patients. The age was varied from 5 to 74 years of age (a median age; 43 years). The mean duration of follow-up was 35 months (2~55 months). To date, 18 $(39.1\%)$ of 46 intracranial tumors treated with SRS showed absent or decrease of the tumor by serial follow-up CT and/or MRI and 16 $(34.8\%)$ were stationary, e.g. growth arrest. From the view point of the clinical aspects, 34 $(73.9\%)$ of 46 tumors were considered improved status, that is, alive with no evidence of active tumor and 8 $(17.4\%)$ of them were stable, alive with disease but no deterioration as compared with before SRS. Although there showed slight increase of the tumor in size according to follow-up imagings of 4 cases (pituitary tumor 1, acoustic neurinomas 2, pinealoma 1), they still represented clinically stable status. Clinically, two $(4.4\%)$ Patients who were anaplastic astrocytoma (n=1) and metastatic brain tumor (n=1) were worsened following SRS treatment. So far, no serious complications were found after treatment. The minor degree headache which could be relieved by steroid or analgesics and transient focal hair loss were observed in a few cases. There should be meticulous long term follow-up inall cases.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.185-194
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• 1998

Purpose : With the development of stereotactic immobilization systems capable of reliable serial repositioning, fractionated stereotactic radiation therapy (FSRT) offers the Potential for an improved treatment outcome by excellent dose delivery, and dose distribution characteristics with the favorable radiobiological properties of fractionated irradiation. We describe our initial experience using FSRT for the treatment of intracranial benign tumor. Materials and Methods : Between August 1995 and December 1996. 15 patients(7 males and 8 females aged 6-70 years) were treated with FSRT. The patients had the following diagnosis pituitary adenoma(10) including one patient who previously had received radiotherapy, craniopharyngioma (2), acoustic neurinoma (1), meningioma (2). Using the Gill-Thomas-Cosman relocatable head frame and multiple non-coplanar therapy, the daily dose of 2Gy was irradiated at 90% to 100% isodose surface of the isocenter The collimator sizes ranged from 26mm to 70mm. Results : In all patients except one follow-up lost, disease was well-controlled. Acute complication was negligible and no patient experienced cranial nerve neuropathies and radiation necrosis. In overall patient setup with scalp measurements, reproducibility was found to have mean of $1.1{\pm}0.6mm$ from the baseline reading. Conclusion : Relocatable stereotactic system for FSRT is highly reproducible and comfortable. Although the follow-up period was relatively short. FSRT is considered to be a safe and effective radiation technique as the treatment of intracranial tumor. But the fractionation schedule(fraction size, overall treatment time and total dose) still remains to be solved by further clinical trials.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.sup2
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• pp.289-293
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• 2001

Objectives : The optimal treatment of craniopharyngioma is controversial. Despite recent advances in microsurgical management, complete surgical removal of craniopharyngioma remains very difficult. Radiation added to surgery is effective, but radiation therapy resulted in untoward side effect in young patient. Gamma knife radiosurgery offers the theoretical advantage of a reduced radiation dose to surrounding structures during the treatment of residual or recurrent craniopharyngioma compared with fractionated radiotheraphy. We described retrospective analysis of tumor size and clinical symptoms of patients after gamma knife radiosurgery in residual or recurrent craniopharyngioma were performed. Material and Methods : From September 1990 to January 2000, 18 patients of craniopharyngioma were treated by gamma knife radiosurgery. All patient had undergone surgery, but residual or recurrent tumor was found and all of them treated postoperative gamma knife radiosurgery. The mean age was 19(from 6 to 66) and male to female ratio was 10 to 8 and 8 patients were below 15 years old. In young age group(below age 15), the average volume of the tumor was $2904.8mm^3$ and mean maximal gamma knife dose was 34.9Gy. In old age group(older than 15), the average volume of the tumor was $2590.4mm^3$ and mean maximal gamma knife dose was 45.2Gy. The size of the tumor was average $2730.1mm^3$($88-12000mm^3$), mean average radiation dose was 40.7Gy and the mean prescription dose was 17.6 Gy(4-35Gy) delivered to a median prescription 50.7% isodose. Results : The follow up was from 1 year to 9 years(mean 59.1 months) after gamma knife radiosurgery. The tumor was controlled in 13(72.2%) patients. The tumor decreased in 9 patients and not changed in 4 patients. The tumor size increased in 4(22.2%) patients during follow up period. In two cases the tumor size increased because of its cystic portion was increased, but their solid portion of the tumor was not changed. In another two patients, the solid portion of the tumor was increased. So, one patient underwent reoperation and the other patient underwent operation and repeated gamma knife radiosurgery. The tumor recurred in one case(5.6%) that is a outside of irradiated site. The presenting symptoms were improved in 4 patients(improved visual acuity in 1, controlled increased intracranial presure sign in 3 patients). In one case, visual acuity decreased after gamma knife radiosurgery. The endocrine symptoms were not influenced by gamma knife radiosurgery. Conclusion : Craniopharyngioma can be treated successfully by gamma knife radiosurgery. Causes of the tumor regrowth are inadequate dose planning because of postoperatively poor margination of the tumor, close approximation of optic nerve and residual tumors outside the target lesion. Recurrence can develop 4 years after gamma knife radiosurgery. Volume is important, but the accurate targeting is more important to prevent tumor recurrence. If the tumor definition is not clear during planning gamma knife surgery, long-term image follow up is required.