الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract Conventional fractionated radiotherapy has been used primarily for malignant skull base tumors and radiosensitive tumors of the intermediate malignant type. Radiation therapy also reduces the growth and recurrence rates of some of the benign tumors including paragangliomas. There are three basic forms of stereotactic radiosurgery represented by three different technological instruments. Each instrument operates differently, has a different source of radiation and may be more effective under different circumstances. The three are: A) Particle beam (proton), B) Cobalt-60 based (photon) and C) Linear accelerator based (linac). Chemotherapy is indicated in specific malignant tumors including nasopharyngeal carcinomas, melanomas and rhabdomyosarcomas. Hormonal therapy for meningiomas and juvenile angiofibromas, which often carry a hormonal receptor, is still in the investigative stage. Interferon, somatostatin analogues, monoclonal antibodies, and gene therapies are likewise considered experimental. To obtain the maximum effect of treatments, various combined treatment regimens are indicated for the management of certain skull base tumors. |