THE ROLE OF BRACHYTHERAPY IN CYSTIC TUMORS OF THE BRAIN

Abstract

Craniopharyngiomas and pilocytic cerebellar astrocytomas are the most common cystic brain tumors (Silverberg et al., 1997). Craniopharyngioma is the most common non glial tumor observed in infancy and childhood and irrespective of its benign nature, craniopharyngioma often behaves, as an aggressive tumor and carries an elevated risk of recurrence (Wisoff, 1994). Pilocytic astrocytoma is a low grade astrocytoma with a predeliction for the posterior fossa (W ara et al., 1997). Intracavitary irradiation usmg yttrium 90 or phosphorus -32 is highly effective in the treatment of cystic craniopharyngioma. If applied as initial treatment in patients with solitary cysts, it is the only required therapy over a long period (Voges et al., 1997). Brachy therapy has no identified role in pilocytic astrocytoma (Halligan et al., 1996).