Stereotactic radiosurgery as a primary treatment modality for pineal parenchymal tumors

Pineal parenchymal tumor (PPT) is extremely rare and histologically heterogeneous, and the optimal treatment strategy is controversial. This study examined clinical outcomes of patients with PPT treated with cyberknife radiosurgery (CKRS) as a primary treatment modality after tumor biopsy.

Between 2009 and 2018, there were six patients diagnosed with PPT who were treated with single or hypofractionated cyberknife radiosurgery (CKRS) after undergoing endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) and tumor biopsy. Two tumors were pineocytoma (PC) and four were pineal parenchymal tumor of intermediate differentiation (PPTID). The marginal dose was 18 Gy, and the median target volume was 3.05 (range 1.4-7.4) cc. The median follow-up period was 55 (range 18 -141) months.

Five patients were alive, and all of their tumors were locally controlled during follow-up periods. Two tumors disappeared completely, two other tumors partially regressed, and another tumor showed no interval change after CKRS. One patient with PPTID showed local progression 14 months after CKRS and died 21 months after CKRS. There were no acute or late complications related to CKRS.

This study suggested that CKRS can be used as a primary treatment modality after ETV and tumor biopsy for PPT with favorable clinical outcomes. However, alternative treatment modalities need to be considered for higher risk groups of patients with PPTID.