Same-day stereotactic aspiration and Gamma Knife surgery for cystic intracranial tumors.

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of same-day stereotactic aspiration and Gamma knife surgery (GKS) for cystic intracranial tumors.

METHODS

Between 1996 and 2007, 77 patients harboring cystic intracranial tumors underwent a same-day procedure of MRI-guided cyst aspiration followed by GKS. The diagnoses were metastatic tumor in 43 patients, glial tumor in 12 patients, vestibular schwannoma in 10 patients, craniopharyngioma in 9 patients, and hemangioblastoma in 3 patients.

RESULTS

An improvement in symptoms was achieved in 68 patients (88.3%) immediately after cyst aspiration. The mean tumor volume in this group of patients was 25.1 cm(3) before aspiration and 11.1 cm(3) afterward. Hemorrhage during the course of aspiration was encountered in 1 patient. Transient nausea after cyst aspiration developed in 3 patients. There was no treatment-related hematoma, seizure, neurological deficit, or infection. The median follow-up period was 16 months (range 6-108 months). Tumor control was achieved in 50 (80.6%) of 62 patients who participated in follow-up for at least 6 months.

CONCLUSIONS

The same-day stereotactic aspiration and GKS procedure was safe in patients with cystic brain tumors. Prompt symptom relief was obtained after cyst aspiration. The decrease in tumor volume following aspiration made GKS more effective because a higher prescription dose could be administered with a lower possibility of radiation-induced side effects.