Radiation of infratentorial and supratentorial brain-stem tumors.

摘要: A retrospective survey of 41 patients with unbiopsied thalamic, pontine, and medullary tumors treated radiation therapy demonstrated 30% to 40% 3-year survival, seven long-term survivors. Eleven the 12 surviving over 3 years have essentially normal neurological function. Of in whom histological diagnoses were eventually obtained, four proved glioblastomas three low-grade astrocytomas. Autopsy revealed that all glioblastomatous extended beyond treatment field; this suggested larger volumes, perhaps whole brain, should be irradiated. High doses (at least 5000 rads) used since survival among those receiving such was 45%.