Neurosurgical Review

, Volume 12, Issue 4, pp 309–313 | Cite as

Intramedullary pilocytic astrocytomas — a clinical and morphological study after combined surgical and photon or neutron therapy

  • Friedhelm Rauhut
  • Volker Reinhardt
  • Volker Budach
  • Helmut Wiedemayer
  • Heinz-Eugen Nau
Neurooncology
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

Ten patients suffering from intramedullary pilocytic astrocytomas (WHO-classification: astrocytoma grade I) were investigated catamnesticly. Combined surgery and radiotherapy was performed. Seven patients received neutron irradiation postoperatively. In four cases the neurological symptoms were improved after follow-up periods ranging from 33 to 89 months. The three other patients died after 6 to 21 months. The autopsy findings of a 14 year old child are presented. Our results are compared with reports in the literature. In addition, long-term problems of the spinal column are discussed. It seems that the combined surgical and neutron therapy improves the prognosis of pencil gliomas.

Keywords

Astrocytoma autopsy findings complications intramedullary neoplasm long-term results neutron therapy pilocytic astrocytoma spinal tumors surgical tumor therapy vertebral column 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. [1]
    Atkins HL, P Tretter: Time-Dose Consideration In Radiation Myelopathy. Acta Radiat Ther 5 (1966) 79–94Google Scholar
  2. [2]
    Battermann JJ: Fast Neutron Therapy For Advanced Brain Tumors. Int J Radiat Onc Biol Phys 6 (1980) 333–335Google Scholar
  3. [3]
    Catterall M, H Julian, G Bloom, DV Ash, L Walsh, A Richardsen, P Uttley, NFC Gowing, P Lewis, B Chaucer: Fast Neutrons Compared With Megavoltage X-Rays In The Treatment Of Patients With Supratentorial Glioblastoma: Controlled Pilot Study. Int Rowliat Onc Biol Phys 6 (1980) 261–266Google Scholar
  4. [4]
    Connolly ES: Spinal Cord Tumors In Adults. In:JR Youmans (ed): Neurology Surgery Vol. 5. WB Saunders Company Philadelphia, London—Toronto—Mexico City—Rio de Janeiro—Sydney—Tokyo 1982Google Scholar
  5. [5]
    De Sousa AL, JE Kalsbeck, J Mayley, RL Campbell, A Hockey: Intraspinal tumors in children. A review of 81 cases. J Neurosurg 57 (1979) 437–445Google Scholar
  6. [6]
    Di Lorenzo N, R Giuffre, A Fortuna: Primary spinal neoplasms in childhood: analysis of 1234 published cases (including 56 personal (cases) by pathology, sex, age and site. Differences from the situation in adults. Neurochirurgia 25 (1982) 153–164PubMedGoogle Scholar
  7. [7]
    Epstein F, N Epstein: Surgical treatment of spinal cord astrocytomas of childhood. A series of 19 patients. J Neurosurg 57 (1982) 685–689PubMedGoogle Scholar
  8. [8]
    Eyster EF, CHB Wilson: Radiation myelopathy. J Neurosurg 32 (1970) 414–420PubMedGoogle Scholar
  9. [9]
    Gerlach J, HP Jensen: Pädiatrische Neurochirurgie. Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart 1967Google Scholar
  10. [10]
    Glanzmann CH: Radiotherapie in der Behandlung von Rückenmarksgliomen. Strahlentherapie 159 (1980) 616–620Google Scholar
  11. [11]
    Grote W: Rückenmarksgeschwülste und andere spinale raumfordernde Prozesse des Kindesalters. chir prax 18 (1974) 401–410Google Scholar
  12. [12]
    Grote W, F Römer, WJ Bock, J Bockhorn, KA Bushe, W Entzian, B Szepan: Langzeitergebnisse in der Behandlung spinaler Tumoren des Kindesund Jugendalters. Mschr Kinderheilk 123 (1975) 112–119PubMedGoogle Scholar
  13. [13]
    Hendrick EB: Spinal Cord Tumors In Children. In:JR Joumans (ed): Neurological Surgery Vol. 5. WB Saunders Company, Philadelphia 1982Google Scholar
  14. [14]
    Kopelson G, RM Linggood: Intramedullary Spinal Cord Astrozytoma Versus Glioblastoma. Cancer 50 (1982) 732–735PubMedGoogle Scholar
  15. [15]
    Kopelson G, RM Linggood, GM Kleinmann, J Doucette, CC Wang: Management of intramedullary spinal cord tumors. Radiology 135 (1980) 473–479PubMedGoogle Scholar
  16. [16]
    Nittner K: Raumbeengende Prozesse im Spinalkanal. In:H Olivecrona, W Tönnis, W Krenkel (eds): Handbuch der Neurochirurgie-Wirbelsäule und Rückenmark Bd II, Springer-Verlag Berlin—Heidelberg—New York 1972Google Scholar
  17. [17]
    Rauhut F, K Roosen, W Grote: Die operative Therapie von HWS-Verletzungen im Kindesalter unter Berücksichtigung der morphologischen und funktionellen Besonderheiten der kindlichen Halswirbelsäule. Z Kinderchir 39 (1984) 160–163PubMedGoogle Scholar
  18. [18]
    Schäfer ER, HJ Weber: Neubildungen. In:KA Bushe, P Glees (eds): Chirurgie des Gehirns und Rückenmarks im Kindes- und Jugendalter, Hippokrates Verlag Stuttgart 1968Google Scholar
  19. [19]
    Wara WM, TL Phillips, GE Sheline, JG Schwade: Radiation Tolerance Of The Spinal Cord. Cancer Col. 35 (1975) 1558–1562Google Scholar
  20. [20]
    Wara MW, GE Sheline: Radiation Therapy Of Tumors Of The Spinal Cord. In:JR Youmans (ed): Neurological Surgery Vol. 5, WB Saunders Company, Philadelphia 1982Google Scholar
  21. [21]
    Zülch KJ: Histological Typing of Tumors of the Central Nervous System. WHO Generva (1979) 44–45Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Walter de Gruyter & Co 1989

Authors and Affiliations

  • Friedhelm Rauhut
    • 1
    • 4
  • Volker Reinhardt
    • 2
  • Volker Budach
    • 3
  • Helmut Wiedemayer
    • 1
  • Heinz-Eugen Nau
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of NeurosurgeryUniversity Hospital EssenEssenWest Germany
  2. 2.Institute of NeuropathologyUniversity Hospital EssenEssenWest Germany
  3. 3.Department of RadiotherapyUniversity Hospital EssenEssenWest Germany
  4. 4.Neurochirurgische KlinikUniversitätsklinikum EssenEssen 1West Germany

Personalised recommendations