Objective: To evaluate the treatment results of stereotactic (186)Re intracavitary irradiation in the patients with craniopharyngioma.
Methods: Nineteen patients were treated with stereotactic (186)Re intracavitary irradiation, including 12 males and 7 females (average age, 37.2 years). Among them 12 patients had a solitary cyst, whereas 7 patients with mixed structure (e.g., a large cyst with a small solid portion). The mean volume of the cystic portion of the tumor before irradiation was 8390 mm(3).
Results: The patients were followed up for 6 months to 3 years. The retraction of the cyst was complete in 7 patients, cyst volume decreased more than 50% in 5 patients and less than 50% in 7 cases. Among the 8 patients with visual acuity deficit before irradiation, 5 were improved. No hypopituitarism occurred in patients with normal pituitary function before treatment. One of the 4 patients with hypopituitarism was improved, 3 of the 5 patients with diabetes insipidus was improved.
Conclusion: Stereotactic (186)Re endocavitary irradiation for the treatment of cystic craniopharyngioma is a safe and effective procedure.