Surgically Targeted Radiation Therapy: A Prospective Trial in 79 Recurrent, Previously Irradiated Intracranial Neoplasms

SAN DIEGO (April 15, 2019) — Winner of the Mahaley Clinical Research Award, Peter Nakaji, MD, FAANS, presented his research, Surgically Targeted Radiation Therapy: A Prospective Trial in 79 Recurrent, Previously Irradiated Intracranial Neoplasms, during the 2019 American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) Annual Scientific Meeting.

Resection alone is typically insufficient for recurrent, previously irradiated intracranial neoplasms and repeat adjuvant external beam radiation treatment (EBRT) is often contraindicated. For these reasons, researchers prospectively evaluated the combination of maximum safe resection (R) and surgically guided collagen tile brachytherapy (TBT) in this cohort of patients. This study differed from older studies in that the isotope used, Cesium 131, has a shorter half-life than that used a generation ago, and the brachytherapy seed spacing is achieved by imbedding the sources in a collagen carrier. 

According to researchers, "We believe that this new technology is fundamentally different from the older brachytherapy studies in both the isotope and the spacing, and this is what has given us our favorable results across a range of tumor types.”

At the end of the study, it was found that surgically targeted tile brachytherapy exhibited good site local control (LC) and overall survival (OS) with complication rates comparable to existing treatments. This study adds to recent studies supporting the use of brachytherapy for neurosurgical disease. This treatment could expand the therapeutic options for this difficult cohort of patients. 

Author Block: Peter Nakaji, MD, FAANS (Phoenix); Emad Youssef, MD; Christopher Dardis, MD; Kris Smith, MD; Dilini Pinnaduwage, PhD; David Brachman, MD

Disclosure: The author reported no conflicts of interest.

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About the 2019 AANS Annual Scientific Meeting
Attended by neurosurgeons, neurosurgical residents, medical students, neuroscience nurses, clinical specialists, physician assistants, allied health professionals and other medical professionals, the AANS Annual Scientific Meeting is the largest gathering of neurosurgeons in the nation, with an emphasis on the field’s latest research and technological advances. The scientific presentations accepted for the 2019 event will represent cutting-edge examples of the incredible developments taking place within the field of neurosurgery. Find additional information about the 2019 AANS Annual Scientific Meeting and the meeting program here.

About the AANS 
Founded in 1931 as the Harvey Cushing Society, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) is a scientific and educational association with more than 11,500 members worldwide. The AANS promotes the highest quality of patient care and advances the specialty of neurological surgery. Fellows of the AANS are board-certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada or the Mexican Council of Neurological Surgery, A.C. Neurosurgery is the medical specialty concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of disorders that affect the spinal column, spinal cord, brain, nervous system and peripheral nerves.

For more information, visit www.AANS.org.