Open AccessTreatment of MRI‐Diagnosed Trigeminal Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors by Stereotactic Radiotherapy in Dogs
Author(s) -
Hansen K.S.,
Zwingenberger A.L.,
Théon A.P.,
Pfeiffer I.,
Kent M.S.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of veterinary internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.356
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1939-1676
pISSN - 0891-6640
DOI - 10.1111/jvim.13970
Subject(s) - medicine , trigeminal nerve , magnetic resonance imaging , radiation therapy , adverse effect , stereotactic radiation therapy , retrospective cohort study , surgery , radiology , medical record , stereotactic radiotherapy , nuclear medicine , radiosurgery
Background Stereotactic radiotherapy ( SRT ) is an emerging technique for treating tumors in animals. Objectives To assess the outcome of dogs with suspected intracranial trigeminal nerve peripheral nerve sheath tumors ( PNST ) treated with SRT . Animals Eight dogs with presumptive PNST . Methods This was a retrospective study of dogs identified by searching UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital medical records for dogs treated with SRT for a presumed PNST . Presumptive diagnosis was based on magnetic resonance imaging. SRT was delivered in 3 dose fractions of 8 Gray (Gy) on consecutive days or every other day to a total dose of 24 Gy. Results Median disease‐specific survival was 745 days (range: 99–1375 days, n = 6). No signs of acute adverse effects of radiation treatment were recorded. Late radiation effects versus tumor progression could not be confirmed histopathologically because of few animals undergoing necropsy. Conclusions and Clinical Importance This study provides preliminary evidence that dogs with PNST benefit from SRT in terms of long‐term survival. The treatment appears to be well tolerated and requires fewer anesthetic events for animals compared to full‐course radiation.