Letter to the Editor

Double Balloon GliaSite in the Management of Recurrent Glioblastoma Multiforme

Authors: James T. Payne, MD, William H. St. Clair, MD, PhD, Curtis A. Given, II, MD, Byron Young, MD, Ali Meigooni, PhD

Abstract

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and aggressive of the malignant adult primary brain tumors.1 Despite significant advances over the last several years in imaging capability, neurosurgical techniques, and radiation treatments, the prognosis for individuals diagnosed with malignant primary brain tumors remains poor. The median survival for patients with GBM is 10 to 12 months after conventional treatment.2 The initial therapy for GBM is resection/debulking followed by external beam radiotherapy delivered in a shrinking field manner. These tumors frequently recur in or adjacent to the area of resection due to their tendency for extensive infiltration of the brain parenchyma. In fact, the majority of recurrences are within 1 to 2 cm from the margin of the original tumor location.2

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References

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2. Algan O, Nelson DF, Dinapoli RP, et al High Grade Gliomas. In: Gunderson LL, Tepper JE, eds.Clinical Oncology. Churchill Livingstone, Philadelphia, pp 355–378.
 
3. Halligan JB, Stelzer KJ, Rostomily RC, et al. Operation and permanent low activity 125I brachytherapy for recurrent high grade astrocytomas. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 1996;35:541–547.
 
4. Patel S, Breneman JC, Warnick RE, et al. Permanent iodine-125 interstitial implants for the treatment of recurrent glioblastoma multiforme. Neurosurgery 2000;46:1123–1130.
 
5. Dempsey JF, Williams JA, Stubbs JB, et al. Dosimetric properties of a novel brachytherapy balloon applicator for the treatment of malignant brain-tumor resection-cavity margins. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 1998;42:421–429.