Radiotherapy for Optic Nerve Sheath Meningiomas

WM Mendenhall, RJ Amdur, CG Morris, WA Friedman

Hong Kong J Radiol 2003;6:183-6

Objective: To determine the outcome after radiotherapy for optic nerve sheath meningiomas.

Patients and Methods: Six patients were treated with conventional (1 patient) or stereotactic (5 patients) radiotherapy and were followed up from 3.1 to 9.9 years (mean, 6.2 years).

Results: Local control was obtained in 6 patients. Useful vision remained stable for 5 patients and 1 patient experienced diminished visual acuity.

Conclusions: Radiotherapy results in a high likelihood of local control with preservation of vision. Stereotactic radiotherapy facilitates adequate tumour coverage while minimising the dose delivered to the uninvolved visual apparatus.