Paraganglioma of the head and neck region, treated with radiation therapy, a Rare Cancer Network study

Abstract

Background Paraganglioma of the head and neck (HNPGL) are rare often benign tumors. Surgery and radiation therapy (RT) are the main treatment choices. We present an analysis of outcome and toxicity after RT from 13 institutions of the Rare Cancer Network. Methods Data were collected using a questionnaire concerning patients' characteristics, treatment, and outcome. A total of 81 patients with 82 HNPGL were analyzed. Results The median follow‐up was 48 months (1‐456). Sixty‐two lesions were treated with conventional RT and 20 lesions with stereotactic RT. Local control (LC) was achieved in 69 out of 77 lesions. Late toxicity occurred in 17 patients. Patients treated with stereotactic RT experienced neither disease progression nor late toxicity. Four patients with a follow‐up longer than 20 years experienced disease progression. Conclusion RT for HNPGL offered good local control with acceptable toxicity. Stereotactic RT might offer better results. Long‐term follow‐up is required.

Surgery of the lateral skull base: a 50-year endeavour

“…The brilliant results (which in some series reached 100%) of stereotactic radiotherapy for both tumour and clinical control may support a radiobiologic concept: we do not know radiosensibility and in general express this as α/β ratio in the linear-quadratic model, but as these tumours are a slow-growing benign entity, the α/β ratio might be considered as low as those of meningiomas (α/β = 3.76 Gy) or vestibular schwannomas (α/β = 2.4 Gy) 212223 .…”

Reply to “Proper tumor classification and growth rate are key elements when considering indications and results of radiotherapy for head and neck paragangliomas”

“…We would like to thank you for the opportunity to respond to the letter by Albertini et al 1 We would also like to thank the authors for their interest in our article 2 and for taking the time to share their concerns.…”

Paraganglioma cuerpo carotídeo: experiencia en 20 años y revisión de la literatura

“…La RT es una herramienta a considerar en tumores que involucran base de cráneo, tamaño > 5 cm en que la resección pueda involucrar un gran daño neurovascular, tumores múltiples y pacientes de elevado riesgo quirúrgico. Se sugiere un esquema de 45 Gy en 25 fracciones de 5 semanas 7,21,22 . Ningún caso de nuestra serie se trató con radioterapia.…”