Radiation techniques for acromegaly

Radiat Oncol. 2011 Dec 2:6:167. doi: 10.1186/1748-717X-6-167.

Abstract

Radiotherapy (RT) remains an effective treatment in patients with acromegaly refractory to medical and/or surgical interventions, with durable tumor control and biochemical remission; however, there are still concerns about delayed biochemical effect and potential late toxicity of radiation treatment, especially high rates of hypopituitarism. Stereotactic radiotherapy has been developed as a more accurate technique of irradiation with more precise tumour localization and consequently a reduction in the volume of normal tissue, particularly the brain, irradiated to high radiation doses. Radiation can be delivered in a single fraction by stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) or as fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT) in which smaller doses are delivered over 5-6 weeks in 25-30 treatments. A review of the recent literature suggests that pituitary irradiation is an effective treatment for acromegaly. Stereotactic techniques for GH-secreting pituitary tumors are discussed with the aim to define the efficacy and potential adverse effects of each of these techniques.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acromegaly / etiology
  • Acromegaly / radiotherapy*
  • Adenoma / complications
  • Adenoma / radiotherapy
  • Dose Fractionation, Radiation
  • Humans
  • Hypopituitarism / etiology
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / complications
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Radiotherapy / adverse effects
  • Radiotherapy / methods*