The clinical results presented for IORT treatment are taken from data published in medical journals or presented at medical and scientific meetings. IORT is always given as part of a comprehensive treatment approach that may also involve additional pre-operative or post-operative radiation therapy or chemotherapy. The appropriate additional therapy that might be required depends on the stage and extent of the disease and is a medical decision that should be made in consultation with a physician. Go here for a printable version of this page.
The most common primary malignant brain tumors are glioblastomas and anaplastic astrocytomas [1]. Characterized by their very aggressive nature, these tumors have largely resisted treatment attempts to control recurrence and spread despite the use of extensive surgical resection, external irradiation and chemotherapy. During the last decade, radiosurgical techniques have been introduced, in which a very high dose of radiation is delivered to a small target within the brain by means of a single exposure from a "gamma knife" or specially equipped linear accelerator. Several clinical studies have reported a possible benefit to patients when radiosurgery is added to other treatments [1]. If the cancer is extensive, however, surrounding normal brain tissue can receive an unacceptably high amount of radiation with radiosurgery and it is generally not used to treat large tumors. IORT may also play a useful role in the treatment of malignant brain tumors when combined with surgery and external irradiation. In contrast to radiosurgery, IORT following surgical resection can spare normal brain tissue by delivering radiation doses that are largely restricted to the tumor bed. More study is required to develop optimal combinations of approaches with IORT that will improve therapeutic outcomes for patients with brain malignancies [2].
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