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Schwannomas and Neurofibromas

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Adult CNS Radiation Oncology

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Abstract

Intradural tumors of the spine are rare. Two thirds of these tumors are extramedullary. Nerve sheath tumors, including both schwannoma and neurofibroma, are intradural extramedullary tumors and usually benign. Surgery represents the first-choice treatment for spinal intradural extramedullary tumors, including schwannomas and neurofibromas. On the other hand, whether it is the most appropriate approach for all cases and in particular in the setting of recurrence, or in the case of residual or multiple lesions, remains an open question. Moreover, some patients are less than ideal candidates for surgery and could be better treated with a noninvasive modality like radiotherapy. Barriers to radiation have included a concern for radiation-induced myelopathy and radiation-induced transformation. Despite this, at present, the number of the patients treated by radiation and in particular stereotactic radiosurgery is increasing. With respect to the latter, results of the first experiences are at least considered promising such that many have adopted radiosurgery as a primary treatment modality. The current literature and the most recent clinical results are summarized in this chapter.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Radiotherapy Unit, Department of Neurosurgery, C. Besta Neurological Institute Foundation, Milan, Italy

    Marcello Marchetti, Elena De Martin & Laura Fariselli

Authors
  1. Marcello Marchetti
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  2. Elena De Martin
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  3. Laura Fariselli
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Laura Fariselli .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Norris Cancer Hospital, Los Angeles, California, USA

    Eric L. Chang

  2. Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA

    Paul D. Brown

  3. Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, USA

    Simon S. Lo

  4. Department of Radiation Oncology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Arjun Sahgal

  5. Department of Radiation Oncology, Taussig Cancer Institute Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

    John H. Suh

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Marchetti, M., De Martin, E., Fariselli, L. (2018). Schwannomas and Neurofibromas. In: Chang, E., Brown, P., Lo, S., Sahgal, A., Suh, J. (eds) Adult CNS Radiation Oncology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-42878-9_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-42878-9_7

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-42877-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-42878-9

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