Perfusion and Volume Response of Canine Brain Tumors to Stereotactic Radiosurgery and Radiotherapy.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) are highly conformal, high-dose radiation treatment techniques used to treat people and dogs with brain tumors.

OBJECTIVES:

To evaluate the response to SRS- and SRT-treated tumors using volume and perfusion variables and to measure the survival times of affected dogs.

ANIMALS:

Prospective study of 34 dogs with evidence of brain tumors undergoing stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) or stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT).

METHODS:

Computed tomography and MRI imaging were used to calculate tumor volume and perfusion at baseline, and at 3 months and 6 months after treatment. Survival analysis was performed to evaluate treatment efficacy.

RESULTS:

Mean tumor volume significantly declined from baseline to the first recheck by -0.826 cm(3) (95% CI: -1.165, -0.487) (P < .001); this reduction was maintained at the second recheck. Blood flow and blood volume declined significantly in the tumor after treatment. Median survival was 324 days (95% CI: 292.8, 419.4), and 4 dogs survived longer than 650 days. Neither actual tumor volume (hazard ratio = 1.21, P = .19) nor the change in tumor volume from the baseline (hazard ratio = 1.38, P = .12) significantly affected the hazard of death because of the tumor.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE:

Stereotactic radiosurgery and SRT are effective treatments for reducing tumor volume, blood flow, and blood volume. Treated dogs surviving for more than 1 year are more likely to die from other causes than of their primary brain tumor. SRS and SRT should be considered for noninvasive treatment of intracranial brain tumors.

• Authors: A L Zwingenberger, R E Pollard, S L Taylor, R X Chen, J Nunley, M S Kent
• Journal: Journal of veterinary internal medicine (J Vet Intern Med) Vol. 30 Issue 3 Pg. 827-35 (May 2016) ISSN: 1939-1676 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 27149650 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

Topics

• Animals
• Brain Neoplasms (blood supply, pathology, radiotherapy, veterinary)
• Dog Diseases (pathology, radiotherapy)
• Dogs
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (veterinary)
• Prospective Studies
• Radiosurgery (veterinary)
• Survival Analysis
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed (veterinary)
• Tumor Burden (radiation effects)