Gamma knife radiosurgery for cavernous hemangiomas in the cavernous sinus

Surgical resection of intracranial cavernous hemangioma located at uncommon location: Clinical presentation and management

Background

Intracranial cavernous hemangiomas (CHs) usually originate from the cerebral and cerebellar hemispheres, while the clinical features and optimum treatment of CHs that originate from atypical locations remain unclear.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis of CHs that originated from the sellar, suprasellar, or parasellar region, the ventricular system, the cerebral falx, or the meninges in patients who underwent surgery from 2009 to 2019 in our department.

Results

In our study, fourteen patients with pathologically confirmed CHs in uncommon locations (UCHs) were enrolled; 5 were located at the sellar or parasellar region, 3 at the suprasellar region, 3 at the ventricular system, 2 at the cerebral falx, and 1 originated from parietal meninges. The most common symptoms were headache and dizziness (10/14); however, none presented with seizures. All UCHs located in the ventricular systems and 2 of the 3 UCHs located in the suprasellar region manifested as hemorrhagic lesions and shared similar radiological features compared with axial CHs; other locations of UCHs did not have a "popcorn" appearance on T2-weighted image. Nine patients achieved GTR, 2 achieved STR, and 3 achieved PR. Four out of five patients who received incomplete resection underwent adjuvant gamma-knife radiosurgery. During the average follow-up of 71.1 ± 43.3 months, no patient died and one patient encountered recurrence and de novo formation of midbrain CH. Most patients had an excellent KPS score of 90-100 (9 of 14) or a good KPS score of 80 (1 of 14).

Conclusion

We suggest that surgery is the optimum therapeutic method for UCHs located at the ventricular system, dura mater, and cerebral falx. Stereotactic radiosurgery plays an important role in the treatment of UCHs located at the sellar or parasellar region and remnant UCHs. Favorable outcomes and lesion control could be achieved by surgery.

Personalized Gamma Knife radiosurgery for cavernous sinus hemangiomas: A Chinese single-center retrospective study for 10 years of 187 patients

Background

The aim of this study is to retrospectively review the effectiveness and safety of personalized Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) for cavernous sinus hemangiomas (CSHs) and to summarize experience of personalized GKRS treatment for different volume of CSHs.

Methods

187 CSHs patients who received personalized GKRS treatment in our center from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2020 were enrolled in this study and classified into small and medium CSHs (<20 ml), large CSHs (20–40 ml) and giant CSHs (≥40 ml) according to tumor volume. The personalized GKRS treatment strategy included single GKRS and staged GKRS. Tumor shrinkage rate, clinical symptoms response, and complications after GKRS were recorded during the follow-up period. Multivariate factors influencing clinical symptoms response were analyzed after personalized GKRS treatment.

Results

After a mean follow-up duration of 28 months (range 12–124 months), the tumor control rate was 100%, and the mean shrinkage rate of CSHs was 93.2% (61.3%–100%) in the last follow-up. Of the 115 patients with preexisting symptoms, 43 (37.5%) patients showed symptom disappearance, 17 (14.7%) patients demonstrated improvement, and 55 (47.8%) patients remained with no change. Previous surgical resection of CSHs (OR = 0.025, 95% CI 0.007–0.084, P = .000) was identified to be an independent risk factor for no symptom improvement after GKRS treatment.

Conclusions

Personalized GKRS is an effective and safe treatment for different volume of CSHs, which is capable of shrinking the tumor and improving symptoms with extremely low incidence of adverse effects and might be considered as the primary treatment strategy for CSHs.

Long-term outcomes of staged Gamma Knife radiosurgery for giant cavernous sinus hemangiomas: a single-center retrospective study

OBJECTIVE

Cavernous sinus hemangiomas (CSHs) are rare benign tumors originating from the cavernous sinus. Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) has been recommended as a primary treatment for small- to medium-sized CSHs. The optimal treatment for giant CSHs is still controversial. In this study, the authors retrospectively reviewed the effectiveness and safety of staged GKRS treatment for giant CSHs.

METHODS

Twenty-two patients with giant CSH who received staged GKRS treatment in the Gamma Knife Treatment Center of Henan Province during the period from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2018, were enrolled in this study. Six patients had received microsurgery before GKRS, the other 16 patients were diagnosed according to clinical symptoms and MR images. All of the enrolled patients received 2-stage GKRS, and the mean interval between the two GKRS treatments was 6.5 months (range 6-12 months). For the first GKRS, the median isodose line was 48% (range 45%-50%), the median marginal dose was 13 Gy (range 11.5-14 Gy), and the median coverage of CSHs was 80% (range 70%-88%). For the second GKRS treatment, the median isodose line was 50% (range 45%-55%), the median marginal dose to the CSHs was 10.5 Gy (range 9-12.5 Gy), and the median coverage of the CSHs was 88% (range 80%-94%).

RESULTS

All of the patients received an outpatient review of an enhanced MR image of the head and a clinical physical check every 6 months after the first GKRS treatment. The mean follow-up duration was 52 months (range 24-84 months). The tumor control rate was 100% 24 months after staged GKRS, and at the last follow-up the mean tumor shrinkage rate was 96.7% (range 90.6%-100%) and the mean residual CSH volume was 2.1 ml (range 0-8.5 ml). Twenty patients suffered central nervous system (CNS) injury symptoms to varying degrees before staged GKRS treatment. Complete symptom recovery was found in 11 (55%) patients, improved symptoms in 5 (25%) patients, and no change in 4 (20%) patients after treatment. Only 1 patient suffered temporary preexisting headache aggravation and 1 patient suffered temporary preexisting diplopia aggravation 1 week after receiving the first GKRS treatment. Subacute or chronic complications were not detected after staged GKRS.

CONCLUSIONS

Staged GKRS is an effective treatment for giant CSHs. Because of the impressively low incidence of adverse effects, staged GKRS may be considered as a primary treatment for giant CSHs.

Safety and efficacy of single-fraction gamma knife radiosurgery for benign confined cavernous sinus tumors: our experience and literature review

Gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) has emerged as a suitable primary treatment option for confined cavernous sinus tumors (CSTs) and residual/recurrent benign tumors extending from the surrounding neighborhood. The aim of this review was to further investigate the safety and efficacy of single-fraction GKRS for primary confined CSTs (hemangioma, meningioma, and schwannoma). This was a retrospective analysis of 16 patients of CSTs, primarily treated with GKRS between 2009 and 2017. The patients underwent follow-up clinical and radiological evaluation at a regular interval. Data on clinical and imaging parameters were analyzed. The published literature on GKRS for CSTs was reviewed. There were total 16 patients (eight meningiomas, seven hemangiomas, and one schwannoma). Patients presented with a headache (56.3%), ptosis (50%), and/or restricted extraocular movements (50%). There was 46.6% tumor volume (TV) reduction after single-fraction GKRS. Hemangiomas showed best TV reduction (64% reduction at > 3-year follow-up) followed by schwannoma (41.5%) and meningioma (25.4%). 56.3% of patients developed transient hypoesthesia in trigeminal nerve distribution. 44.4% of patients became completely pain-free. Among cranial nerves, the superior division of the oculomotor nerve showed best outcome (ptosis 62.5%) followed by an improved range of EOM. There was no adverse event in the form of new-onset deficit, vascular complication, or malignant transformation except for one out of the field failures. Among available treatment options, GKRS is the most suitable option by virtue of its minimally invasive nature, optimal long-term tumor control, improvement in cranial neuropathies, cost-effectiveness, favorable risk-benefit ratio, and minimal long-term complications.

Hypofractionated stereotactic radiosurgery: a new treatment strategy for giant cavernous sinus hemangiomas

OBJECTIVE Cavernous sinus hemangiomas (CSHs) are rare benign vascular tumors that arise from the dural venous sinuses lateral to the sella. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) has emerged as a principal alternative to microresection for small- and medium-sized CSHs. Resection is a reasonable option for large (3-4 cm in diameter) and giant (> 4 cm in diameter) CSHs. However, management of giant CSHs remains a challenge for neurosurgeons because of the high rates of morbidity and even death that stem from uncontrollable and massive hemorrhage during surgery. The authors report here the results of their study on the use of hypofractionated SRS (H-SRS) to treat giant CSH. METHODS Between January 2008 and April 2014, 31 patients with a giant CSH (tumor volume > 40 cm³, > 4 cm in diameter) treated using CyberKnife radiosurgery were enrolled in a cohort study. Clinical status and targeted reduction of tumor volume were evaluated by means of serial MRI. The diagnosis for 27 patients was determined on the basis of typical imaging features. In 4 patients, the diagnosis of CSH was confirmed histopathologically. The median CSH volume was 64.4 cm³ (range 40.9-145.3 cm³). Three or 4 sessions of CyberKnife radiosurgery were used with a prescription dose based on the intent to cover the entire tumor with a higher dose while ensuring dose limitation to the visual pathways and brainstem. The median marginal dose to the tumor was 21 Gy (range 19.5-21 Gy) in 3 fractions for 11 patients and 22 Gy (range 18-22 Gy) in 4 fractions for 20 patients. RESULTS The median duration of follow-up was 30 months (range 6-78 months) for all patients. Follow-up MRI scans revealed a median tumor volume reduction of 88.1% (62.3%-99.4%) at last examination compared with the pretreatment volume. Ten patients developed new or aggravated temporary headache and 5 experienced vomiting during the treatment; these acute symptoms were relieved completely after steroid administration. Among the 30 patients with symptoms observed before treatment, 19 achieved complete symptomatic remission, and 11 had partial remission. One patient reported seizures, which were controlled after antiepileptic drug administration. No radiation-induced neurological deficits or delayed complications were reported during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS Hypofractionated SRS was an effective and safe modality for treating giant CSH. Considering the risks involved with microsurgery, it is possible that H-SRS might be able to serve as a definitive primary treatment option for giant CSH.

Gamma Knife radiosurgery for hemangioma of the cavernous sinus

OBJECTIVE Cavernous sinus hemangiomas (CSHs) are rare vascular tumors. A direct microsurgical approach usually results in massive hemorrhage and incomplete tumor resection. Although stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) has emerged as a therapeutic alternative to microsurgery, outcome studies are few. Authors of the present study evaluated the role of SRS for CSH. METHODS An international multicenter study was conducted to review outcome data in 31 patients with CSH. Eleven patients had initial microsurgery before SRS, and the other 20 patients (64.5%) underwent Gamma Knife SRS as the primary management for their CSH. Median age at the time of radiosurgery was 47 years, and 77.4% of patients had cranial nerve dysfunction before SRS. Patients received a median tumor margin dose of 12.6 Gy (range 12-19 Gy) at a median isodose of 55%. RESULTS Tumor regression was confirmed by imaging in all 31 patients, and all patients had greater than 50% reduction in tumor volume at 6 months post-SRS. No patient had delayed tumor growth, new cranial neuropathy, visual function deterioration, adverse radiation effects, or hypopituitarism after SRS. Twenty-four patients had presented with cranial nerve disorders before SRS, and 6 (25%) of them had gradual improvement. Four (66.7%) of the 6 patients with orbital symptoms had symptomatic relief at the last follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Stereotactic radiosurgery was effective in reducing the volume of CSH and attaining long-term tumor control in all patients at a median of 40 months. The authors' experience suggests that SRS is a reasonable primary and adjuvant treatment modality for patients in whom a CSH is diagnosed.

Gamma Knife radiosurgery for the treatment of cavernous sinus hemangiomas

The present retrospective study aimed to analyze the outcome of patients with cavernous sinus hemangioma (CSH) treated with Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKS). Between August 2011 and April 2014, 7 patients with CSHs underwent GKS. GKS was performed as the sole treatment option in 5 patients, whilst partial resection had been performed previously in 1 patient and biopsy had been performed in 1 patient. The mean volume of the tumors at the time of GKS was 12.5±10.2 cm³ (range, 5.3-33.2 cm³), and the median prescription of peripheral dose was 14.0 Gy (range, 10.0-15.0 Gy). The mean follow-up period was 20 months (range, 6-40 months). At the last follow-up, the lesion volume had decreased in all patients, and all cranial neuropathies observed prior to GKS had improved. There were no radiation-induced neuropathies or complications during the follow-up period. GKS appears to be an effective and safe treatment modality for the management of CSHs.

Cavernous sinus cavernous hemangioma: imaging features and therapeutic effect of Gamma Knife radiosurgery

OBJECT

To investigate the imaging features of cavernous sinus cavernous hemangioma (CSCH) and evaluate the therapeutic effect of Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) in treatment of CSCH.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Fifteen patients with CSCH treated by GKRS in our institute, including 6 males and 9 females, age range 20-77 years old, were analyzed retrospectively. Three of them were given craniotomies as the initial therapy. All cases had performed conventional and contrast-enhanced MRI and 5 patients underwent dynamic enhanced MRI preoperatively. In 6 cases, the multi-directional continuous data of axial, coronal and sagittal enhanced MRI were acquired. Three cases performed digital subtraction angiography (DSA) simultaneously. The diagnoses of lesions were determined mainly depending on typical imaging features. In 3 patients, the diagnoses of CSCH were confirmed histopathologically. The radiation dosimetry was done with a goal of conformal and selective coverage of the lesion with a 50% prescription isodose line. The mean marginal dose constituted 13.4 Gy (range 10-16 Gy). After GKRS was performed, all patients were arranged regular clinical and MRI follow-up every 6 months during the first 12 months, and once per year thereafter.

RESULTS

On MRI, the lesions were typically demonstrated as iso/hypo-intensities on T1WI and remarkable hyper-intensities on T2WI, and apparent homogeneous enhancement. The phenomenon of dynamic enhancement was found in 11 cases. The progressive enhancing process from heterogeneous to uniform was displayed in the 5 patients performed same-slice dynamic MRI, including imaging characteristics of 'edge to center' enhancement in 2 case. In the other 6 cases, the delayed homogeneous enhancement of lesion was observed. Ten patients obtained radiological follow-up results after GKRS. Reviewing the follow-up data of 8 patients during the period of 3-6 months, the lesions were apparently shrunk in 5 patients with shrinkage rate of 20.8-46.8%. In 4 patients with imaging follow-up during the period of 6-12 months, the lesions of 3 patients were remarkably shrunk with shrinkage rate of 53.5-81.7%. Four patients had imaging follow-up data over 12 months, and all their lesion sizes were reduced with shrinkage rate of 19-83.6%. The clinical presentations of all patients after GKRS were followed up during the period of 1-30 months. In 7 of 9 cases with headache, the symptom was improved; in 5 of 6 cases, facial hypesthesia was improved; in 6 of 9 cases with visual impairments, the visions were markedly improved; and in 8 cases with preoperative diplopia, the symptoms were all resolved.

CONCLUSION

Although bright hyper-intensities on T2WI and significant homogeneous enhancement on contrast-enhanced T1WI are considered as typical imaging characteristics of CSCH, the dynamic process of progressive delayed enhancement on contrast-enhanced MR is more persuasive in diagnosis. According to our study, GKRS could be chosen as an effective and safe alternative treatment for CSCH. We consider that using relatively low marginal dose may get better effects in tumor shrinkage and protection of cranial nerves.

Cavernous sinus hemangioma: a fourteen year single institution experience

Cavernous sinus hemangioma (CSH) is a rare extra-axial vascular neoplasm that accounts for 2% to 3% of all cavernous sinus tumors. Their location, propensity for profuse bleeding during surgery, and relationship to complex neurovascular structures are factors which present difficulty in excising these lesions. The authors describe their experience of 22 patients with CSH over 14 years at a tertiary care center. Patients were managed with microsurgical resection using a purely extradural transcavernous approach (13 patients) and with Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS; Elekta AB, Stockholm, Sweden) (nine patients). Retrospective data analysis found headache and visual impairment were the most common presenting complaints, followed by facial hypesthesia and diplopia. All but one patient had complete tumor excision in the surgical series. Transient ophthalmoparesis (complete resolution in 6-8 weeks) was the most common surgical complication. In the GKRS group, marked tumor shrinkage (>50% tumor volume reduction) was achieved in two patients, slight shrinkage in five and no change in two patients, with symptom improvement in the majority of patients. To our knowledge, we describe one of the largest series of CSH managed at a single center. Although microsurgical resection using an extradural transcavernous approach is considered the treatment of choice in CSH and allows complete excision with minimal mortality and long-term morbidity, GKRS is an additional tool for treating residual symptomatic lesions or in patients with associated comorbidities making surgical resection unsuitable.

Gamma knife surgery for a hemangioma of the cavernous sinus in a child

Cavernous sinus (CS) hemangiomas are rare vascular abnormalities that constitute 0.4%-2% of all lesions within the CS. Cavernous sinus hemangiomas are high-flow vascular tumors that tend to hemorrhage profusely during resection, leading to incomplete resection and high morbidity and mortality. While Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) has proven to be an effective treatment of CS hemangiomas in the adult population, few reports of GKS for treatment of CS hemangiomas exist in the pediatric literature. Here, the authors present the first case of a 15-year-old girl with a biopsy-proven CS hemangioma who achieved complete resolution of her symptoms and a complete imaging-defined response following GKS. If suspicion for a CS hemangioma is high in a pediatric patient, GKS may be considered as an effective treatment modality, thus avoiding the morbidities of open resection.

Gamma Knife radiosurgery for hemangiomas of the cavernous sinus: a seven-institute study in Japan

Object

Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKS) is currently used for primary or postoperative management of cavernous sinus (CS) hemangiomas. The authors describe their experience with 30 cases of CS hemangioma successfully managed with GKS.

Methods

Thirty patients with CS hemangiomas, including 19 female and 11 male patients with a mean age of 53 years (range 19–78 years) underwent GKS at 7 facilities in Japan. Pathological entity was confirmed using surgical specimens in 17 patients, and neuroimaging diagnosis only in 13. Eight patients were asymptomatic before GKS, while 22 had ocular movement disturbances and/or optic nerve impairments. The mean tumor volume was 11.5 cm3 (range 1.5–51.4 cm3). The mean dose to the tumor periphery was 13.8 Gy (range 10.0–17.0 Gy).

Results

The mean follow-up period was 53 months (range 12–138 months). Among the 22 patients with symptoms prior to GKS, complete remission was achieved in 2, improvement in 13, and no change in 7. Hemifacial sensory disturbance developed following GKS in 1 patient. The most recent MR images showed remarkable shrinkage in 18, shrinkage in 11, and no change in 1 patient.

Conclusions

Gamma Knife radiosurgery proved to be an effective treatment strategy for managing CS hemangiomas. Given the diagnostic accuracy of recently developed neuroimaging techniques and the potentially serious bleeding associated with biopsy sampling or attempted surgical removal, the authors recommend that GKS be the primary treatment in most patients who have a clear neuroimaging diagnosis of this condition.

STEREOTACTIC RADIOSURGERY FOR CAVERNOUS SINUS OR ORBITAL HEMANGIOMAS

OBJECTIVE

Hemangiomas are rare but highly vascular tumors that may develop in the cavernous sinus or orbit. These tumors pose diagnostic as well as therapeutic challenges to neurosurgeons during attempted removal. We analyzed our increasing experience using stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS).

METHODS

Eight symptomatic patients with hemangiomas underwent SRS between 1988 and 2007. The presenting symptoms included headache, orbital pain, diplopia, ptosis, proptosis and impaired visual acuity. The hemangiomas were located in either the cavernous sinus (7 patients) or the orbit (1 patient). Four patients underwent SRS as primary treatment modality based on clinical and imaging criteria. Four patients had previous microsurgical partial excision or biopsy. The median target volume was 6.8 mL (range, 2.5–18 mL). The median prescription dose delivered to the margin was 14.5 Gy (range, 12.5–19 Gy). The dose to the optic nerve in all patients was less than 9 Gy (range, 4.5–9 Gy).

RESULTS

The median follow-up period after SRS was 80 months (range, 40–127 months). Six patients had symptomatic improvement; 2 patients reported persistent diplopia. Follow-up imaging revealed tumor regression in 7 patients and no change in tumor volume in 1 patient. All the patients improved after SRS.

CONCLUSION

Our extended experience confirms that SRS is an effective management strategy for symptomatic intracavernous and intraorbital hemangiomas. Our study is the first long-term report on the safety and efficacy of SRS.

Stereotactic radiosurgery for pituitary adenomas: a comprehensive review of indications, techniques and long-term results using the Gamma Knife

OBJECT

This study reviews the long-term clinical results of stereotactic radiosurgery in the treatment of pituitary adenoma patients.

METHODS

We reviewed the outcomes of 298 patients who underwent Gamma Knife radiosurgery for recurrent or residual pituitary adenomas. These results are compared to other contemporary radiosurgical series.

RESULTS

Pituitary tumors are well-suited for radiosurgery, since radiation can be focused on a well circumscribed region, while adjacent neural structures in the suprasellar and parasellar regions are spared. The overall rate of volume reduction following stereotactic radiosurgery is 85% for non-secretory adenomas that are followed for more than 1-year. The rates of hormonal normalization in patients with hypersecretory adenomas can vary considerably, and tends to be higher in patients with Cushing's Disease and acromegaly (remission rate of approximately 53% and 54%, respectively) when compared with patients who have prolactinomas (24% remission) and Nelson's syndrome (29%) remission. Advances in dose delivery and modulation of adenoma cells at the time of radiosurgery may further improve results.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the effectiveness of radiosurgery varies considerably depending on the adenoma histopathology, volume, and radiation dose, most studies indicate that radiosurgery when combined with microsurgery is effective in controlling pituitary adenoma growth and hormone hypersecretion. Long-term follow-up is essential to determine the rate of endocrinopathy, visual dysfunction, hormonal recurrence, and adenoma volume control.

Evaluation and management of Cushing syndrome in cases of negative sellar magnetic resonance imaging

✓ The treatment of patients with Cushing disease and without magnetic resonance (MR) imaging evidence of Cushing disease (that is, negative MR imaging) is discussed in this paper. Magnetic resonance imaging is the diagnostic modality of choice in Cushing disease, but in up to 40% of these patients negative imaging can be caused by tumor-related factors and limitations in imaging techniques. In cases in which the MR imaging is negative, it is critical to make sure that the diagnosis of Cushing disease is correct. This can be accomplished by performing a complete laboratory and imaging workup, including dexamethasone suppression tests, imaging of the adrenal glands, and inferior petrosal sinus sampling when appropriate. If these evaluations suggest a pituitary source of the hypercortisolemia, then transsphenoidal surgery remains the treatment of choice. The authors favor the endoscopic approach because it gives a wider and more magnified view of the sella and allows inspection of the medial cavernous sinus walls. Radiosurgery is an effective treatment option in patients with persistent Cushing disease. When a target cannot be found on MR imaging, one can target the entire sellar region with radiosurgery.

Cavernous malformation of the trigeminal nerve

A cavernous malformation involving the Gasserian ganglion, 2nd and 3rd divisions of the trigeminal nerve on the left side was resected via an extradural route in a 54 year old male. Cavernous malformations of the cranial nerves are rare. Specific origin from the trigeminal nerve has not been previously reported.