Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
High dose radiotherapy for treating trigeminal nerve tumors in dogs
By Dolera, Mario et al.·Published in Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association·2018·La Cittadina Fondazione Studi e Ricerche Veterinarie, Italy·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: High dose hypofractionated frameless volumetric modulated arc radiotherapy is a feasible method for treating canine trigeminal nerve sheath tumors.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of seven dogs with trigeminal nerve sheath tumors, which can cause symptoms like facial swelling or pain, were treated with a new type of radiation therapy called high dose hypofractionated volumetric modulated arc radiotherapy. This treatment was delivered in five sessions over a few weeks. After the therapy, one dog showed complete improvement, four had partial improvement, and two remained stable. On average, the dogs lived for about 952 days after starting treatment, suggesting that this radiation method is a promising option for managing these tumors with minimal side effects.
People also search for: dog trigeminal nerve tumor treatment · canine radiation therapy · dog facial swelling causes · dog cancer survival rates
Abstract
The aim of this prospective pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of curative intent high dose hypofractionated frameless volumetric modulated arc radiotherapy for treatment of canine trigeminal peripheral nerve sheath tumors. Client-owned dogs with a presumptive imaging-based diagnosis of trigeminal peripheral nerve sheath tumor were recruited for the study during the period of February 2010 to December 2013. Seven dogs were enrolled and treated with high dose hypofractionated volumetric modulated arc radiotherapy delivered by a 6 MV linear accelerator equipped with a micro-multileaf beam collimator. The plans were computed using a Monte Carlo algorithm with a prescription dose of 37 Gy delivered in five fractions on alternate days. Overall survival was estimated using a Kaplan-Meier curve analysis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) follow-up examinations revealed complete response in one dog, partial response in four dogs, and stable disease in two dogs. Median overall survival was 952 days with a 95% confidence interval of 543-1361 days. Volumetric modulated arc radiotherapy was demonstrated to be feasible and effective for trigeminal peripheral nerve sheath tumor treatment in this sample of dogs. The technique required few sedations and spared organs at risk. Even though larger studies are required, these preliminary results supported the use of high dose hypofractionated volumetric modulated arc radiotherapy as an alternative to other treatment modalities.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29885013/