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Joined: 8/9/2009
Posts: 1
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A recent article (http://tinyurl.com/ljhyq9) mentions possible cognitive deficiencies in radiotherapy (not radiosurgery) patients treated for gliomas (not ANs) 12 years after treatment. About half of them developed such deficiencies vs. only a quarter of those not treated with radiotherapy. Unfortunately the summary does not explain exactly what kind of treatment they had, but one might suspect it was based on large beams and numerous fractions (as opposed to focused beams and few fractions for CyberKnife AN treatment).
ANs are obviously not in the brain, and CyberKnife dose conformity is very high, but given that the typical CK fraction for ANs is around 6-7 Gy and some of the affected patients were treated with fractions under 2 Gy, is the above something we should worry about at all?
I realized this is more of a question for the brain forum, but I am an AN patient (treated with CyberKnife and very happy so far).
Thanks and regards,
Kroblon
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Joined: 10/10/2008
Posts: 2354
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Any radiation to the brain could potentially cause cognitive problems, but it is highly unlikely with CK treatment of an AN. THe larger amount of brain tissue exposed to moderate to high doses of radiation is key, although the smaller doses per day is somewhat protective.
If you need one more thing to worry about, then you might want to choose this, but I would not recommend it.
Clinton A. Medbery, III, M.D.
St. Anthony Hospital Cyberknife Center
(405) 272-7311
buddy@swrads.org
Mail to:
Clinton A. Medbery, III, M.D.
Southwest Radiation Oncology
1011 N. Dewey Ave. #101
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
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Joined: 10/10/2008
Posts: 141
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Hi Dr. M and thank you. Its interesting that many AN'ers on the ANA forums talk about short term memory loss, esp. after forms of treatment (ie: microsurgical and radio treatments.) Have you or Dr. S had patients that have also noted this same issue, post radio for AN's? Only curious. Phyl
=============================================== 1cm Acoustic Neuroma treated by CK at Beth Isreal Deaconess, Boston, MA 1st week of April 2006
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Joined: 10/10/2008
Posts: 2354
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No, but they might not report it to me. People tend to downplay symptoms to their doctors.
Clinton A. Medbery, III, M.D.
St. Anthony Hospital Cyberknife Center
(405) 272-7311
buddy@swrads.org
Mail to:
Clinton A. Medbery, III, M.D.
Southwest Radiation Oncology
1011 N. Dewey Ave. #101
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
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Joined: 2/2/2009
Posts: 26
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just my 2cents.... I am one that tends to downplay my symptoms to Dr as I have just come to terms with the way some things are, and generally greatful to just be alive...... I have the tinitis and try to explain the effects of that as "distracted". I tend to be distracted all the time anymore therfore harder to "think" of things like short term memory stuff and following conversation etc..... But I can relate to those things and lean toward thinking they have something to do with CK, and probably to age as well... lol Knowing how things have been thus far after CK, I would still totally chose CK over conventional surgery.
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Joined: 10/10/2008
Posts: 2354
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Never say anything is due to age...dangerous road to walk down ;-)
Clinton A. Medbery, III, M.D.
St. Anthony Hospital Cyberknife Center
(405) 272-7311
buddy@swrads.org
Mail to:
Clinton A. Medbery, III, M.D.
Southwest Radiation Oncology
1011 N. Dewey Ave. #101
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
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Joined: 2/2/2009
Posts: 26
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lol ok, I will try and remember that 
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