Radiation Therapy Alone for Growth Hormone-Producing Pituitary Adenomas

Authors

  • George A. Plataniotis
  • John R. Kouvaris From the Department of Radiology, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
  • Lambros Vlahos From the Department of Radiology, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
  • Constantine Papavasiliou From the Department of Radiology, University of Athens, Athens, Greece

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1080/028418698423249

Abstract

We present our experience in the treatment of growth hormone (GH)-producing pituitary adenomas using irradiation alone. Between 1983 and 1991, 21 patients suffering from GH-secreting pituitary adenomas were treated with radiotherapy alone. Two bilateral opposing coaxial fields were used in 10 patients and in the remaining 11 a third frontovertex field was added. Treatment was given in 1.8-2 Gy daily fractions and total dose ranged between 45 and 54 Gy. Treatment was given using a cobalt unit. Four patients treated with somatostatin prior to and 14 patients treated after the end of radiotherapy experienced symptom relief for 6-28 weeks. The 5-year actuarial rate of disease control was 72%. Five out of six failed patients had macroadenomas. Hypopituitarism was observed in 5/21 (24%) patients. Whereas RT alone is effective in the treatment of microadenomas, this is not true for large infiltrative macroadenomas.

 

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Author Biography

George A. Plataniotis

We present our experience in the treatment of growth hormone (GH)-producing pituitary adenomas using irradiation alone. Between 1983 and 1991, 21 patients suffering from GH-secreting pituitary adenomas were treated with radiotherapy alone. Two bilateral opposing coaxial fields were used in 10 patients and in the remaining 11 a third frontovertex field was added. Treatment was given in 1.8-2 Gy daily fractions and total dose ranged between 45 and 54 Gy. Treatment was given using a cobalt unit. Four patients treated with somatostatin prior to and 14 patients treated after the end of radiotherapy experienced symptom relief for 6-28 weeks. The 5-year actuarial rate of disease control was 72%. Five out of six failed patients had macroadenomas. Hypopituitarism was observed in 5/21 (24%) patients. Whereas RT alone is effective in the treatment of microadenomas, this is not true for large infiltrative macroadenomas.

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Published

1998-01-01

How to Cite

Plataniotis, G. A. ., Kouvaris, J. R. ., Vlahos, L. ., & Papavasiliou, C. . (1998). Radiation Therapy Alone for Growth Hormone-Producing Pituitary Adenomas. Acta Oncologica, 37(1), 97–99. https://doi.org/10.1080/028418698423249

Issue

Vol. 37 No. 1 (1998): Acta Oncologica

Section

Articles