Radiation therapy of microgliomas.

Microglioma (reticulum-cell sarcoma) of the central nervous system is uncommon. The authors reviewed 12 biopsy-proved cases with clinical and radiographic evidence of involvement limited to the central nervous system which were seen between 1966 and 1980. The age range was 15-81 and there were 8 females and 4 males. No patient had clinical evidence of seeding in the spinal canal. All patients were treated with 3,000-5,000 rad (30-50 Gy). Eleven patients died of tumor; the only survivor has remained continuously free of recurrence for 79 months. The poor survival suggests that a higher dose and adjuvant chemotherapy should be considered in the initial management of microglioma.