Efficacy of stereotactic radiation therapy for the treatment of confirmed or presumed canine glioma

• Published in: Veterinary & comparative oncology Vol. 21; no. 4; pp. 578 - 586
• Main Authors: Trageser, Erin, Martin, Tiffany, Burdekin, Braden, Hart, Cullen, Leary, Del, LaRue, Susan, Boss, Mary‐Keara
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.12.2023
• Subjects: Animals; Brain Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Brain Neoplasms - veterinary; dog; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Glioma - radiotherapy; Glioma - veterinary; Humans; intra‐axial; neoplasia; Prognosis; Radiosurgery - methods; Radiosurgery - veterinary; Retrospective Studies; SRT; staging; SRT; dog; staging; neoplasia; intra-axial
• ISSN: 1476-5810; 1476-5829
• DOI: 10.1111/vco.12920

Intracranial gliomas are the second most common brain tumour in dogs. Radiation therapy provides a minimally invasive treatment option for this tumour type. Earlier publications reporting on the use of non‐modulated radiation therapy suggested a poor prognosis for dogs with glioma, with median survival times ranging between 4 and 6 months; more recent literature utilizing stereotactic radiation therapy (SRT) demonstrates that the prognosis for canine gliomas may be more promising, with survival times closer to 12 months. A single institution retrospective study was performed between 2010 and 2020 investigating the outcomes of dogs with biopsy‐confirmed glioma or a presumptive diagnosis of intra‐cranial glioma based on MRI characteristics that were treated with SRT. Twenty‐three client‐owned dogs were included. Brachycephalic breeds were overrepresented, totalling 13 dogs (57%). SRT protocols included 16 Gy single fraction (n = 1, 4%), 18 Gy single fraction (n = 1, 4%), 24 Gy in 3 daily fractions (n = 20, 91%), or 27 Gy in four daily fractions (n = 1, 4%). Twenty‐one dogs (91%) had improvement of their presenting clinical signs following SRT. Median overall survival time (MST) was 349 days (95% CI, 162–584). Median disease specific survival time was 413 days (95% CI, 217–717). When SRT is incorporated into the management plan for dogs with confirmed or presumed intracranial glioma, a median survival time of approximately 12 months may be achievable.