State-of-the-art treatment alternatives for base of skull meningiomas: complementing and controversial indications for neurosurgery, stereotactic and robotic based radiosurgery or modern fractionated radiation techniques

Stephanie E Combs; Ute Ganswindt; Robert L Foote; Douglas Kondziolka; Jörg-Christian Tonn

doi:10.1186/1748-717X-7-226

State-of-the-art treatment alternatives for base of skull meningiomas: complementing and controversial indications for neurosurgery, stereotactic and robotic based radiosurgery or modern fractionated radiation techniques

Radiat Oncol. 2012 Dec 29:7:226. doi: 10.1186/1748-717X-7-226.

Authors

Stephanie E Combs¹, Ute Ganswindt, Robert L Foote, Douglas Kondziolka, Jörg-Christian Tonn

Affiliation

¹ Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany. Stephanie.Combs@med.uni-heidelberg.de

Abstract

For skull base meningiomas, several treatment paradigms are available: Observation with serial imaging, surgical resection, stereotactic radiosurgery, radiation therapy or some combination of both. The choice depends on several factors. In this review we evaluate different treatment options, the outcome of modern irradiation techniques as well as the clinical results available, and establish recommendations for the treatment of patients with skull-base meningiomas.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Dose Fractionation, Radiation*
Humans
Meningioma / radiotherapy*
Meningioma / surgery*
Radiosurgery / methods*
Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / methods
Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated / methods
Robotics / methods
Skull Base Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
Skull Base Neoplasms / surgery*
Treatment Outcome