Radiation Therapy and Chiasmal Glioma- A Complication

J. M. was first seen at age 10 months with clinical and CT evidence of an optic chiasmal glioma. Consultants at the University of California, San Francisco, concurred with the diagnosis. Conservative therapy was elected and the patient observed. Three months later he developed weakness, ataxia and further deterioration of visual function. CT showed tumor enlargement with hydrocephalus. Radiation therapy was recommended by the Tumor Board. When a CT scan three weeks after an initial course of 4560 reds showed only modest tumor shrinkage, the radiation therapists chose to administer a second course bringing the total midline tumor dose to 6020 reds. The patient's gait improved though his vision remained poor.