Significance of Dosimetric Parameters in Patients Undergoing Gamma Knife Radiosurgery for Vestibular Schwannoma

Vestibular schwannoma (VS) is a benign, encapsulated, and slow-growing tumor of the myelin-forming cells of the 8th cranial nerve. Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) has become a widely accepted primary treatment modality for small- to medium-sized VSs. In the case of VS, highly conformal, precisely focused radiation is delivered to the acoustic tumor in a single session under the direct supervision of a radiosurgery team AIM: This study aims to determine the significance of Conformity Index and Gradient Index (GI) in patients undergoing GKRS for VS, retrospectively, and re-assess the plans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A dosimetric study of 112 patients of VS (both operated and nonoperated) treated on Gamma Knife Perfexion unit at our hospital, over a 3-year period, was carried out retrospectively. The patients’ mean age at the time of GKRS was 48 years and the mean dose to the tumor margin was 13 Gy. The conformality of the treatment plan was determined by Conformity Index. GI determines fall off dose outside the target. RESULTS: The dosimetric parameters such as Conformity Index and GI were calculated using the dose-volume histograms and the volume analysis tools available in the Leksell Gamma Plan using TMR 10 algorithm. The mean Paddick Conformity Index was found to be around 0.80 ± 0.085 and the mean GI was 2.67 ± 0.22. CONCLUSIONS: The dosimetric parameters can be used to evaluate the dose coverage and conformity and dose fall off outside the target.