Management of Atypical Cranial Meningiomas, Part 2: Predictors of Progression and the Role of Adjuvant Radiation After Subtotal Resection

Meningioma_-_brain_invasion_-_high_mag

Neurosurgery 75:356–363, 2014

The efficacies of adjuvant stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) for atypical meningiomas (AMs) after subtotal resection (STR) remain unclear.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical, histopathological, and radiographic features associated with progression in AM patients after STR.

METHODS: Fifty-nine primary AMs after STR were examined for predictors of progression, including the impact of SRS and EBRT, in a retrospective cohort study.

RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients (46%) progressed after STR (median, 30 months). On univariate analysis, spontaneous necrosis positively (hazard ratio = 5.2; P = .006) and adjuvant radiation negatively (hazard ratio = 0.3; P = .009) correlated with progression; on multivariate analysis, only adjuvant radiation remained independently significant (hazard ratio = 0.3; P = .006). SRS and EBRT were associated with greater local control (LC; P = .02) and progression-free survival (P = .007). The 2-, 5-, and 10-year actuarial LC rates after STR vs STR/EBRT were 60%, 34%, and 34% vs 96%, 65%, and 45%. The 2-, 5-, and 10-year actuarial progression-free survival rates after STR vs STR/EBRT were 60%, 30%, and 26% vs 96%, 65%, and 45%. Compared with STR alone, adjuvant radiation therapy significantly improved LC in AMs that lack spontaneous necrosis (P = .003) but did not improve LC in AMs with spontaneous necrosis (P = .6).

CONCLUSION: Adjuvant SRS or EBRT improved LC of AMs after STR but only for tumors without spontaneous necrosis. Spontaneous necrosis may aid in decisions to administer adjuvant SRS or EBRT after STR of AMs.

Management of Atypical Cranial Meningiomas, Part 1: Predictors of Recurrence and the Role of Adjuvant Radiation After Gross Total Resection

Meningioma_-_brain_invasion_-_high_mag

Neurosurgery 75:347–355, 2014

Indications for external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) for atypical meningiomas (AMs) remain unclear.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze features associated with recurrence in AM patients after gross total resection (GTR) and to assess the relative benefit of EBRT in a retrospective cohort study.

METHODS: One hundred fifty-one primary AMs after GTR (88 female patients; median follow-up, 45.0 months) were examined for possible predictors of recurrence (age, sex, location, volume, bone involvement, brain invasion). The Fisher exact and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests were used to analyze the association between these predictors and use of EBRT. The impact on recurrence for these predictors and EBRT was analyzed with Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression.

RESULTS: Of 151 patients, 13 (8.6%) experienced recurrence after GTR (median, 47.0 months). Multivariate analysis identified elevated mitotic index (P = .007) and brain invasion (P = .002) as predictors of recurrence. Larger volume (P = .96) was not associated with recurrence but was more likely to prompt EBRT (P = .001). Recurrences occurred in 11 of 112 with GTR (9.8%; median, 44 months) and 2 of 39 with GTR/EBRT (5.1%; median, 133 months). The 2-, 5-, and 10-year progression-free survival rates after GTR vs GTR/ EBRT were 97%, 86%, and 68% vs 100%, 100%, and 78%. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated no difference in progression-free survival or overall survival after GTR vs GTR/ EBRT (P = .8, P . .99).

CONCLUSION: Brain invasion and high mitotic rates may predict recurrence. After GTR of AMs, EBRT appears not to affect progression-free survival and overall survival, suggesting that observation rather than EBRT may be indicated after GTR.