Introduction: Primary chordomas and chondrosarcomas of the skull base are difficult tumours to treat successfully. Despite advances in surgical techniques, a gross total resection is often impossible to achieve. In addition, some patients may be deemed unsuitable or not wish to undergo extensive surgery for these conditions. This study examines the role of Gamma Knife Stereotactic Radiosurgery (GKRS) in the treatment of these difficult cases.
Methods: All patients harbouring either a chordoma or chondrosarcoma treated at the National Centre for Stereotactic Radiosurgery, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK, between 1985 and 2018, were reviewed with regard to their clinical presentations, pre- and post-treatment imaging, GKRS prescriptions and outcomes.
Results: In total, 24 patients with a mean tumour volume of 13 cm3 in the chordoma group (n=15) and 12 cm3 in the chondrosarcoma group (n=9) underwent GKRS. The 5- and 10-year overall survival rates for the chordoma group were 67% and 53% respectively, while for the chondrosarcoma group, they were 78% at both time points. The tumour control rates at 5 and 10 years in the chordoma group were 67% and 49% and for the chondrosarcoma group 78% at both time points. Patients with tumour volumes of less than 7 cm3 before GKRS treatment demonstrated a statistically significant longer overall survival rate (p=0.03).
Conclusions: GKRS offers a comparable option to proton beam therapy for the treatment of these tumours. Early intervention for tumour volumes of less than 7 cm3 gives the best long-term survival rates.
Keywords: Chondrosarcoma; Chordoma; Gamma Knife; Skull base tumour; Stereotactic radiosurgery; Tumour control.