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Proton therapy for skull base tumors: A review of clinical outcomes for chordomas and chondrosarcomas
Author(s) -
Mercado Catherine E.,
Holtzman Adam L.,
Rotondo Ronny,
Rutenberg Michael S.,
Mendenhall William M.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.25479
Subject(s) - skull , proton therapy , medicine , radiation therapy , chordoma , chondrosarcoma , radiology , adjuvant therapy , surgery , chemotherapy
Abstract Background Skull base chordomas and chondrosarcomas are rare tumors traditionally treated by surgical resection and adjuvant radiation therapy (RT). We will discuss data evaluating clinical outcomes of proton therapy in the treatment of skull base chordomas and chondrosarcomas. Methods A literature review was performed using a MEDLINE search from January 1990 to January 2017. Results The published data suggest that the dose intensification allowed by proton therapy has resulted in good clinical outcomes and a tolerable toxicity profile. Conclusion Proton therapy is a modern RT technique that has demonstrated improved preliminary clinical outcomes in the treatment of skull base chordomas and chondrosarcomas compared to conventional radiotherapy, and comparable to other advanced photon‐based RT techniques.