Stereotactic radiosurgery as a salvage treatment for recurrent skull base adenoid cystic carcinoma

Twelve patients (15 lesions) with recurrent skull base adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) were treated by Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). The tumor volume ranged from 2 to 103 ml (median 15 ml). Treatment was prescribed at the 40-60% isodose line and ranged from 10 to 18 Gy (median: 13.0 Gy). The median follow-up period was 18 months (range 3-55). Six patients were alive and 6 dead at the end of the follow-up period. Only 1 patient died from local tumor recurrence. Ten among 15 tumors treated by SIRS decreased in size until the end of the follow-up period or the patients' death. Three remained unchanged in size. Two tumors initially regressed but then increased in size. In selected patients with recurrent skull base ACC, SIRS can be considered as a salvage treatment with good local control. Copyright (C) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel.