Is SBRT an appropriate treatment for recurrent and unresectable spinal ependymoma?

We have reirradiated a handful of patients who had 45-54Gy to the spinal cord 5-12 years ago with another course of RT 50Gy/25 to the cord without any neurologic sequelae--this is unpublished (we are working on it). We have also reirradiated small recurrences after a full course of RT to the spinal ...

Data in the literature based on Anca Grosu's work on re-irradiaiton of spinal cord show that the cumulative dose to the spinal cord can go up to a nominal BED (alpha-beta ratio of 2 and 2 Gy per fx equivalent) of 60-68 Gy without a significant risk of radiaiton myelopathy. All those patients were tr...

If the recurrent tumor is intramedullary (as opposed to extramedullary), more portions of the spinal cord will be reirradiated.