Drug distribution and clinical safety in treating cystic craniopharyngiomas using intracavitary radiotherapy with phosphorus-32 colloid.

The present study evaluated drug distribution and clinical safety in treating patients with cystic craniopharyngioma (CP) with intracavitary radiotherapy using phosphorus-32 (32P) colloid. In total, 40 patients who were recently diagnosed with primary or recurrent cystic CP were enrolled into the study. Patients underwent stereotactic intracavitary therapy and were administered 32P colloid and iopamidol-300 (1:1 dilution). Head computed tomography (CT) scans were performed 2 h after surgery in order to assess drug distribution and leakage. Results obtained from the ophthalmic examination (visual acuity, visual field and fundus), enhanced head magnetic resonance imaging and/or CT scans, blood analysis, coagulation tests, electrolyte tests, pituitary hormone level analysis, and hepatic and renal function tests were compared between the 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 mCi groups. The 32P colloid per minute radioactive count was quantitatively measured in urine and blood samples using a CAPRAC well-type NaI γ counter at 1, 3 and 7 days post-surgery. In total, 6, 2 and 1 case(s) from the 2, 1.5 and 1 mCi groups, respectively, demonstrated heterogeneous drug distribution and intracavitary cerebrospinal fluid leakage. Furthermore, out of 24 patients, no significant differences were identified in blood analysis, blood biochemical measurements and pituitary hormone levels prior to and 7 days after surgery. Blood 32P deposition returned to normal levels within 3 days after surgery, whereas urine deposition returned to normal within 7 days after surgery. Methods utilized in the present study were advantageous in terms of convenience, speed and low cost, therefore, these techniques are suitable for continuous monitoring of patient 32P colloid deposition.

Introduction

Therapeutic regimens utilized for recurrent craniopharyngioma (CP) primarily comprise repeat surgery, radiotherapy and stereotactic intracavitary therapy (radiotherapy or chemotherapy) (1). In 1985, Taasan et al (2) reported on 6 patients (3 with CP and 3 with glioma) who were treated with stereotactic intracavitary brachytherapy using phosphorus-32 (32P) colloid. Results demonstrated that all patients experienced an improved clinical curative effect. Furthermore, the standard clinical 32P colloid dosage (2) based on the size of the cystic cavity was proposed. In 2004, Hasegawa et al (3) reported on 49 CP patients with a mean cyst volume of 13 ml. All patients were treated with stereotactic 32P intracavitary irradiation. A radiation dose beween 189 and 250 Gy (mean, 224 Gy) was targeted at the cyst wall during five half-lives of the isotope. The survival rates were 90% at 5 years and 80% at 10 years after initial diagnosis. The tumor cyst control rates were 76% at 5 years and 70% at 10 years after initial diagnosis. In 2012, Kickingereder et al (4) summarized the application of stereotactic 32P colloid irradiation in 53 patients with cystic CP: Use of a capsule volume of 0.5–78.9 ml, assuming a capsule wall dose of 200–250 Gy, a 32P colloid dose of 0.03–78.9 mCi and pull-out fluid at 0–29.3 ml, and follow-up following affirmation of the curative effect. The application of 32P colloid for radiotherapy on the treatment of cystic CP using stereotactic surgery is a key topic of interest within the Institute of Neurosurgery (Navy General Hospital, Beijing, China) (5,6). According to the current literature, studies on intracavitary drug distribution, surgical leakage and 32P deposition in treating patients with CP using intracavitary radiotherapy with 32P colloid are limited in number. Furthermore, to the best of our knowledge, there are currently no studies on the monitoring of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood parameters following 32P colloid treatment for patients with CP (2,3). In 2012, Trippel and Nikkhah (7) summarized previous literature on the use of stereotactic intracavitary radionuclide therapy for patients with CP and suggested that drug distribution prior to and following radionuclide injection should be compared in order to avoid leakage or connection to the ventricular system; otherwise fever, headache, hypothalamic radiation injury and other effects may occur. Therefore, a safe and convenient technique is required to monitor the distribution of 32P injected into the CP cavity, and to detect whether leakage is present. In 2013, Denis-Bacelar et al (8) performed single-photon emission computed tomography (CT) imaging pre- and post-surgery and identified that the mean absorbed dose of 32P colloid delivered to the cyst wall was <50% of the total dose and outlined the requirement for further studies on the drug metabolism, residual deposition and safety of 32P for patients with CP.

Materials and methods

Clinical data

Primary drugs and equipment

In total, 300 mgI/ml 32P colloid (Atom Hi-tech Co. Ltd., Beijing, China) and iopamidol-300 (Shanghai Bracco Sine Pharmaceutical Corp., Ltd., Shanghai, China) were injected into the CP cystic cavity of each patient (1:1 dilution) one time. 32P is a sterile and green colloidal solution with a nuclear purity >99.9%, (pH 7.0), a chemical concentration of 2.32 mg/ml and a radioactive concentration >1,850 mBq/ml. A CAPRAC well-type NaI γ counter (Beijing Huaruison Science and Technology Development Co. Ltd., Beijing, China) was used to quantitatively measure the 32P colloid per minute radioactive count.

Subjects and grouping

Patients who were recently diagnosed with primary or recurrent cystic CP were enrolled into the study between March 2012 and October 2015. Only patients who were not allergic to iodine and required surgical intervention were enrolled as study subjects. Written informed consent was obtained from either the patient or a relative, and the present study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Navy General Hospital. In total, 40 patients (26 men and 14 women) aged between 10 and 65 years of age (mean age, 34.3) were selected. The equation for calculating the dose/volume [previously described by Taasan et al (2)] was referred to for the tailored calculation of therapeutic doses [in milliCurie (mCi)] based on clinical and surgical requirements. For the analysis of drug distribution, patients were divided into the following four groups according to therapeutic dose: 0.5 mCi (0.2 ml; n=10), 1 mCi (0.4 ml; n=10), 1.5 mCi (0.6 ml; n=10) and 2 mCi (0.8 ml; n=10). Additionally, 8 patients from all groups, with the exception of the 1.5 mCi group (as a result of the little effect of the drug dose between 1.0–2.0 mCi on the experimental results of drug safety study) were randomly selected for an evaluation of drug safety through comparison of hematological parameters prior to and following surgery among different groups and comparison of residue 32P depositions in venous blood and urine among different groups. Due to the large number of specimens (13 ml preoperative blood samples, 13 ml blood samples from 7 days after surgery, 2 ml blood samples from 1, 3 and 7 days after surgery, 2 ml urine samples from 1, 3 and 7 days after surgery) required from each patient in this part of the study, in order to ensure the smooth progress of the experiment (a smaller number of patients would be easier to monitor because the drug safety analysis required 7 days in hospital following surgery), the number of cases included in the drug safety analysis was reduced.

Therapeutic methods

Surgery

Local anesthesia was adopted for surgery. The Leksell head frame was used for all patients preoperatively. The positioning magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan was performed, and the acquired images were transferred to the stereotactic imaging workshop for artificial puncture route planning and the calculation of cystic cavity volume and drug dose. The Aero Tech stereotactic surgery planning system (supplied by the Image Center of Beihang University, Beijing, China) was used to determine the surgical target and calculate coordinates, whereas the three-dimensional simulation was adopted to determine the optimal surgical approach that should avoid important structures, including blood vessels and optic nerves. During the surgery, 32P colloid was administered for the stereotactic intracavitary therapy in a 1:1 dilution with iopamidol 300 (300 mgI/ml). Drug distribution was assessed using head CT scans within 2 h after surgery.

Physical examination and imaging examination

Ophthalmic examination (visual acuity, visual field and fundus) and head MRI or CT examinations were performed prior to and following surgery.

Hematological examination

Prior to and 7 days after surgery, the following haematological parameters were assessed for each patient: Blood routine, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time, fibrinogen, serum total protein, serum albumin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, potassium ion (K+) levels, sodium ion (Na+) levels, chloride ion (Cl−) levels and pituitary hormones [including thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone, prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH)]. Patients were require to fast for 10 h prior to blood sampling (13 ml). Patients who demonstrated a decrease in hormone levels were administered hormone supplements (including thyroxine tablets, dexamethasone tablets and ambroxol tablets) and regular follow-ups (the first week, the first month, the third month and the half year after discharge) were performed the major hematological parameters (ALT, AST, K+, Na+, Cl−, TSH, ACTH, PRL and GH) were compared between the groups with the difference value (D-value) of the blood index prior to and following the operation.

Detection of residual 32P deposition

Venous blood (2 ml) and urine (2 ml) were obtained from all patients at 1, 3 and 7 days post-surgery. Radioactive counts per minute (CPM) within each sample were quantitatively measured using the CAPRAC well-type NaI γ counter to evaluate 32P deposition.

Statistical analysis

SPSS software (version 17; SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) was used for data analysis. Results are presented as mean ± standard deviation. Data were analyzed for normality, and an analysis of variance for randomized block design was performed. The Student-Newman-Keuls test was then utilized for group comparisons and Dunnett's test was used to analyze blood and urine CPM values between each study group and the negative control group (normal blood and urine specimens). An analysis of variance and Bonferroni's correction were used to analyze leakage rate. P<0.05 was considered to indicate a statistically significant difference.

Results

Comparison of general data between study groups

No significant differences were identified between patients (n=40) with regard to the general condition (age, weight and surgical duration; P>0.05; Table I).

Table I.

Comparison between groups with regard to the general condition of each patient (mean ± standard deviation).

Group	n	Age, years	Weight, kg	Surgical duration, h
0.5 mCi	10	31.10±18.41	60.50±16.43	1.59±0.50
1.0 mCi	10	30.10±18.07	58.80±17.50	1.64±0.37
1.5 mCi	10	32.20±20.23	61.50±19.86	1.62±0.40
2.0 mCi	10	29.60±19.25	62.90±17.04	1.57±0.45

No significant differences were identified between groups regarding general conditions (P>0.05).

Medical history

In total, 24 patients had a history of previous CP resection, 29 underwent internal radiotherapy with 32P colloid for CP following stereotactic aspirations of cystic fluid, 11 underwent stereotactic aspiration alone, 7 accepted γ-knife treatment, 4 were treated with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt and 2 were implanted with Ommaya reservoirs.

Preoperative signs, symptoms and laboratory results

The primary clinical symptoms regarding intracranial hypertension included headache, nausea and vomiting in 18 patients, and polydipsia and polyuria in 12 patients. Vision loss was identified in 34 patients (4 with monocular blindness), with varying degrees of visual field defects. Developmental disorders, which were short and without the development of secondary sexual characteristics, were observed in 4 patients. Abnormal pre-surgery levels were observed for the following hormones: TSH (n=10; the normal range values, 0.49–4.91 mIU/l), ACTH (n=22; the normal range values, 7.2–63.3 pg/ml), LH [n=1; the normal range values, period of follicular (2.22–10.9 IU/l), period of ovulation (19.1–103 IU/l), period of luteal (1.2–12.9 IU/l), period of the menopause (10.9–58.6 IU/l)], PRL (n=5; the normal range values, 70.8–566.5 mIU/l) and GH (n=4; the normal range values, 0–5 ng/ml).

Clinical efficacy

Surgery was successful for all patients; the volume of the capsule was reduced, the injection was successful, and the postoperative symptoms were relieved without complications. Overall, 1 patient formed a small epidural hematoma, which was treated using the conservative regimen (hemostasis, dehydrated drugs and symptomatic treatment); 1 patient suffered from a small amount of bleeding from the frontal lobe puncture path, which was improved following the conservative regimen; 19 patients exhibited small amounts of intracranial gas accumulation, which were self-absorbed; the cystic volume was significantly decreased in 37 patients post-surgery; hormone levels returned to the normal reference range post-surgery in 5 patients (TSH, n=2; PRL, n=2 and GH, n=1), whereas 3 patients (TSH, n=2 and ACTH, n=1) exhibited abnormal hormone levels, and no other marked alterations were observed. Improvement in vision was observed in 21 patients following surgery and no other marked changes were observed during ophthalmic examination. No wound or intracranial infection was observed following surgery. Results demonstrated significant differences between the predicted cystic cavity volume prior to surgery and the cystic fluid volume aspirated during surgery among different dose groups (P<0.05; Table II).

Table II.

Comparison of each patient's cystic cavity volume, extraction fluid volume and leakage rate between groups prior to surgery (mean ± standard deviation).

Group	n	Leakage rate, %	Predicted cystic cavity volume, ml	Extracted cystic fluid volume, ml
0.5 mCi	10	0	3.54±0.66	3.46±0.64
1.0 mCi	10	10	7.44±1.08[a]	7.12±1.35[a]
1.5 mCi	10	20	12.29±1.84[a,b]	12.79±1.47[a,b]
2.0 mCi	10	60[a,b]	16.84±1.01[a,b,c]	16.95±1.51[a,b,c]

P<0.05 compared with the 0.5 mCi group

P<0.05 compared with the 1.0 mCi group

P<0.05 compared with the 1.5 mCi group.

Drug distribution and leakage

Head CT results obtained from all patients 2 h after surgery demonstrated that heterogeneous drug and contrast agent distributions were present in 6 patients within the 2.0 mCi group, 2 patients within the 1.5 mCi group and 2 patients within the 1.0 mCi group. This was due to the fact that the ventricles were inevitably involved in the puncture routes, resulting in shrinkage of the cavity volume following the intracavitary CSF leakage (Fig. 1A-C). However, the remaining patients demonstrated that the drug and the contrast agent were heterogeneously distributed and no leakage was identified. Therefore, cavity volumes were significantly decreased (Fig. 1D-F) and the leakage rate was significantly increased between the 2.0 mCi group and the 1.0 and 0.5 mCi groups (both P<0.05; Table II).

Figure 1.

(A-C) Imaging results obtained pre- and post-surgery from a patient with CSF leakage whose puncture route failed to avoid the ventricles. (A) Positioning head MRI scan (prior to surgery), indicating a close association between the CP cyst and the ventricle. (B) Puncture route planned by the stereotactic surgery planning system. (C) Image obtained from the head CT scan performed 1 h after surgery in order to evaluate the contrast agent distribution and leakage. Image demonstrates an intracavitary heterogeneous enhancement and unchanged cavity size, with a small amount of gas accumulation. (D-F) Imaging results obtained pre- and post-surgery from a patient without CSF leakage. (D) Positioning head MRI scan (prior to surgery), indicating a close association between the CP cyst and the pons. (E) Estimated cystic fluid volume of ~33 ml and the puncture route planned by the stereotactic surgery planning system, which successfully avoided the ventricle. (F) Image generated from the head CT scan performed 1 h after surgery demonstrating intracavitary homogeneous enhancement and decreased cavity size without gas accumulation. CSF, cerebrospinal fluid; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; CP, craniopharyngioma; CT, computed tomography.

Drug safety

Comparison of hematological parameters prior to and following surgery among different groups

No significant differences were identified in group comparisons between blood routine results, blood biological parameters and pituitary hormone levels among 24 patients pre-surgery and at 7 days post-surgery (P>0.05; Table III). Prior to surgery, blood routine results and blood biological parameters from all the patients were within the normal reference ranges. However, within the 2.0 mCi group, two patients presented with increased ALT (the normal range values, 5–35 U/l) levels, one exhibited decreased levels of K+ (the normal range values, 3.5–5.3 mmol/l), Na+ (the normal range values, 136–145 mmol/l), and Cl− (the normal range values, 96–108 mmol/l) and one demonstrated a mildly prolonged coagulation time following surgery, while in the 1.0 mCi group, one patient demonstrated decreased levels of K+, Na+ and Cl− following surgery. Abnormal pituitary hormone levels were identified in patients in different groups prior to surgery: 3 patients demonstrated decreased TSH levels, 2 demonstrated abnormally decreased ACTH levels, 1 demonstrated slightly increased PRL levels and 1 demonstrated decreased GH levels in the 2.0 mCi group, whereas 1 patient demonstrated decreased TSH levels, 1 demonstrated decreased ACTH levels and 1 demonstrated decreased GH levels in the 1.0 mCi group. Abnormal postoperative pituitary hormone levels were also identified in patients in different groups: In the 2.0 mCi group, 2 patients exhibited decreased TSH levels, 2 exhibited decreased ACTH levels and 1 exhibited decreased GH levels, whereas in the 1.0 mCi group, 1 patient exhibited decreased TSH levels and 1 patient exhibited decreased ACTH levels. In the 0.5 mCi group, 1 patient demonstrated decreased ACTH levels following surgery. Although abnormal variations were observed prior to and following surgery in certain individual surgical indices, no significant differences were identified when compared with major hematological parameters (ALT, AST, K+, Na+, Cl−, TSH, ACTH, PRL and GH) from each group prior to and 7 days after surgery (P>0.05).

Table III.

D-value results of main blood test indices for differences prior to and following surgery for each group (mean ± standard deviation).

Group	n	ALT, U/l	AST, U/l	K+, mmol/l	Na+, mmol/l	Cl−, mmol/l	TSH, mIU/l	ACTH, pg/ml	PRL, IU/l	GH, ng/ml
0.5 mCi	8	−0.74±1.77	−0.78±1.65	0.61±0.32	6.13±4.04	5.22±3.82	0.08±0.05	2.35±0.99	2.79±1.64	0.01±0.01
1.0 mCi	8	−0.96±1.78	−0.97±1.67	0.69±0.47	5.79±4.90	5.37±3.71	0.09±0.05	2.12±1.30	2.69±2.04	0.01±0.01
2.0 mCi	8	0.08±4.68	0.11±4.44	0.69±0.80	6.90±4.83	5.41±3.94	0.09±0.07	2.32±1.81	2.32±2.96	0.01±0.01

Main blood indices prior to and following surgery demonstrated no significant differences between groups (P>0.05). ALT, aspartate aminotransferase; AST, alkaline phosphatase; K+, potassium; Na+, sodium; Cl−, chloride; TSH, thyroid-stimulating hormone; ACTH, adrenocorticotropic hormone; PRL, prolactin; GH, growth hormone.

Residue 32P depositions among different groups

Venous blood (2 ml) and urine (2 ml) were obtained from 24 patients at 1, 3 and 7 days post-surgery. The CAPRAC well-type NaI γ counter was used to measure the CPM and blank controls were set accordingly. Results indicated a significant difference in blood CPM values 1 day after surgery and in urine CPM values 1, 3 and 7 days after surgery between the 2.0 and 1.0 mCi groups and the control group (P<0.05). Blood deposition returned to normal within 3 days, whereas urine deposition returned to normal in ~7 days (Fig. 2).

Figure 2.

Alterations in radioactive phosphorus-32 colloid CPM identified in (A) blood and (B) urine samples from each group within 7 days after surgery. CPM, counts per minute.

Discussion

The present study successfully investigated the distribution and leakage of 32P injected into the CP cystic cavity using the contrast agent developing technology (a head CT scan to check the iopamidol-300 has been injected into the CP cystic cavity). This method, compared with the single-photon emission computed tomography (CT) imaging (8), is advantageous with regard to convenience, immediacy and low cost. Head CT scans, which were performed following surgery, indicated the accumulation of a small amount of intracavitary gas in the majority of patients. Negative pressure caused by cyst fluid aspiration may have contributed to the accumulation and these small amounts of gas may have entered the cyst at the time of syringe replacement and/or drug injection. Despite gas being self-absorbed in the long term, the intracranial gas accumulation can still be avoided using a T-tube to improve the injection process and withdrawing the puncture needle directly following the completion of the injection. The primary reason for the heterogeneous CT images was due to negative pressure being created by the connection between the puncture route and the ventricle, this caused the CSF to pass through the puncture hole in the CP wall and enter into the cystic cavity, which diluted the contrast agent and the 32P colloid. As the target is typically set at the center of the cystic cavity, imaging results demonstrated a CSF flushing dilution zone within the cavity center. In such cases, when the cystic fluid is aspirated during the surgery, the fluid color becomes gradually clear and the negative pressure is removed. When the aspirated fluid volume is significantly increased compared with the pre-surgical estimate, CSF leakage occurs and the aspiration is terminated immediately. Therefore, with the premise of ensuring a safe intracranial puncture route, the ventricle system should be maximally avoided during the pre-surgical route planning. Usually, when the route is not connected to the ventricular system, negative pressure increases as the aspiration continues. Negative pressure appears when the fluid is completely aspirated, and therefore, further aspiration should be avoided. In these cases, a significantly decreased cavity size with homogeneous enhancement of contrast agent is observed in the head CT scans following surgery. A difference between the preoperative estimated cystic fluid volume and the actual aspirated cystic fluid volume was investigated in the present study. The differences observed may be associated with the tracing accuracy of the surgery planning system for each cyst cross-section presented on the MRI prior to surgery, the degree of aspiration, the amount of CSF leakage and the presence of multiple CP cysts, as well as whether they were interconnected. Furthermore, the degree of cyst wall calcification also affects the planning for the puncture route, whereas the elastic retraction degree of the cyst wall also determines the amount of fluid aspiration and the degree of cystic cavity shrinkage. Overall, as patient CP cystic cavity volume increased, the volume of required 32P colloid also increased [calculated based on the equation (2)]. Patients who required an increased volume of 32P colloid also required a more complex intracranial puncture route in order to avoid the ventricle containing part of the protruding cyst wall(s), therefore, this increased the risk of heterogeneous drug and contrast agent distribution due to CSF leakage. However, it is important to note that even if the imaging route plan avoids the ventricle system, CSF leakage may still occur during surgery.

The present study also investigated the deposition, excretion, toxicity and side effects of the 32P colloid following surgery. Surgery was successful in all patients, and according to the comparison of clinical and imaging results, the effectiveness (classified as the volume of the capsule being reduced, the injection was successful, and the postoperative symptoms were relieved without complications) was 100%; however, certain patients still suffered from poorly improved vision, visual field and hormone levels, whereas other individuals exhibited mildly decreased hormone levels. Patients who demonstrated a decrease in hormone levels were administered hormone supplements (including thyroxine tablets, dexamethasone tablets and ambroxol tablets) and regular follow-ups were performed. All patient hormone levels returned to their respective normal reference range and the side effects caused by hormone supplements were effectively managed. Results obtained from imaging analysis demonstrated a slight decrease in CP cystic volume in certain individuals, indicating the presence of CSF leakage from the intracranial puncture route. Therefore, disease observation, blood tests and imaging examination during the follow-up should be provided to these patients. Intraventricular leakage of 32P colloid is occasionally inevitable and the drug spreads along the CSF circulation pathway following entrance into the ventricular system, causing further radioactive damage to several types of neurological system, including the hypothalamus. Despite comparison of hematological parameters prior to and following surgery, results demonstrated no significant different in any group; however slightly elevated transaminase levels, mild coagulation abnormalities and electrolyte imbalance occurred in certain patients. A previous study (9) demonstrated that 32P colloid caused coagulation and liver dysfunction due to a decrease in antiplatelets; however, these dysfunctions were completely restored on their own accord following 8 weeks. Therefore, monitoring hematological parameters within 1 month after surgery is of high importance. As the duration of hospitalization is usually <7 days, it is essential to increase the monitoring of each hematological parameter and symptom following patient discharge. In the present study, time points for measuring CPM following surgery in blood and urine samples were rather limited and also all within 1 week, whereas the half-life of 32P is ~2 weeks and the excretion cycle is >2 weeks. Therefore, the follow-up duration following discharge should be prolonged, or preferably be replaced with continuous monitoring until the CPM value has returned to normal. Due to the limited research in this area, the complete metabolic pathway of 32P colloid remains unclear. The absorbance of 32P colloid into the blood through the cyst wall prior to being decomposed by the liver requires investigation. However, it is important to note that discharged 32P colloid only accounts for a small proportion of the total injected dose and that the majority of the drug is still distributed and deposited into the CP cystic cavity until it loses its radioactivity; however, further investigation into the presence of residue in feces and sweat excretion are required.

It important to recognize the limitations of the present study. The long-term distribution and leakage of 32P colloid could not be monitored continuously and further measurements of 32P colloid radioactivity inside the cyst and/or CSF fluid were not provided. Additionally, the enrolled patients should have been followed up in order to determine long-term efficacy. Furthermore, surgical manipulations and route planning affected the present results and surgical efficacy to varying degrees. Associated factors which influenced results included the surgeon's surgical habits (artificial differences in surgical software planning, artificial control differences in cystic fluid aspiration level, artificial selection of puncture needle, surgical technique difference, etc.), estimations of the cystic volume and drug doses, accuracy of the evaluation for visual recovery and symptom improvement, intraoperative judgment for the amount and degree of cyst fluid aspiration, and the patient's tolerance to the local anesthesia and surgery. The CAPRAC well-type NaI γ counter was used to quantitatively measure the 32P colloid radioactive CPM in the patients' blood and urine, and to evaluate the presence of residual 32P colloid deposition. This method, compared with the previous liquid scintillation counter (10), is advantageous with regard to convenience, immediacy and low cost during radioactive counting, therefore, it is suitable for the continuous monitoring of a patient's residual 32P colloid deposition. The present study provides a method for evaluating the distribution of 32P colloid radiotherapy for craniopharyngioma and proves its safety and efficacy.