EFFICACY AND TOXICITY OF FRACTIONATED STEREOTAXIC RADIOTHERAPY IN THETREATMENT OF RECURRENT GLIOMAS (PHASE-I-II STUDY)

Twenty-two patients with recurrent glioma have been treated on a dose escalation protocol with fractionated stereotactic external beam radio therapy (SRT). All had previously received radical radiotherapy (media n dose 55 Gy) as part of the initial treatment. The dose of SRT was in creased from 30 Gy in six fractions to 50 Gy in ten fractions. Median survival from the date of SRT was 9.8 months. There was no significant acute morbidity but five patients who received greater-than-or-equal- to 40 Gy developed steroid responsive neurological deterioration assum ed to represent late radiation damage. The survival and toxicity in pa tients with recurrent glioma are comparable with interstitial therapy. Fractionated SRT is a noninvasive form of localised radiation which m ay be a suitable alternative to interstitial therapy in this group of patients.