Irradiation of high grade glioma-target volume determination

Full text: The determination of clinical target volume (CTV) and PTV of high grade glioma is controversial. In departments, where the regular use of CT and MRI is difficult and sometimes impossible in everyday practice, this problem remains unsolved. The purpose of thy study is to assess the postoperative results of irradiation of whole brain of high grade glioma patients and to compare them with results of other authors. 296 patients with intraoperatively proved high grade glioma were irradiated in our clinic.135 were with GM and 161 were with AA.The treatment was done on a Co-60 unit with whole brain irradiated up to 40 Gy and additional 20 Gy to the tumor bed to a total dose of 60 Gy. Median survival for GM was 14 months and for AA 18 months. Patients younger than 45, with Karnofsky status 90 - 100% and totally operated had better prognosis and lived longer. The poor prognosis of high grade glioma patients is still obvious.The radiotherapy departments where CT and MRI are lacking, can irradiate the whole brain up to 40 Gy and then add 20 Gy to the tumor bed