INTRAOPERATIVE RADIATION-THERAPY IN MALIGNANT GLIOMA - EARLY CLINICAL-RESULTS

Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) with high energy electron beam s is a treatment modality that has been included in multimodal program s in oncology to improve local tumor control. From August 1991 to Dece mber 1993, 17 patients with primary (8) or recurrent (9) high grade ma lignant gliomas, anaplastic astrocytoma (4), anaplastic oligodendrogli oma (6) and glioblastoma multiforme (7), underwent surgical resection and a single dose of 10-20 Cy intraoperative radiation therapy was del ivered in tumor bed. Fourteen patients received either pre-operative ( 8) or post-operative (6) external beam radiation therapy. Primary glio mas: 18-months actuarial survival rate has been 56% (range: 1-21+ mont hs) and the median survival time has not yet been achieved. Four patie nts developed tumor progression (median time to tumor progression: 9 m onths). Recurrent gliomas: 18-months actuarial survival rate and media n survival time has been 47% and 13 months (range: 6-32+ months) respe ctively. The median time to tumor progression was 17 months. No IORT r elated mortality has been observed. IORT is an attractive, tolerable a nd feasible treatment modality as antitumoral intensification procedur e in high grade malignant gliomas.