Surgery and proton radiotherapy for pediatric base of skull chordomas

Data on clinical outcomes for base of skull (BOS) chordomas in the pediatric population is limited. A retrospective study at Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston) investigated outcomes of pediatric BOS-chordomas treated with surgery and proton radiotherapy (PRT). Median age at diagnosis was 11.1 years (range 1-21). At a median follow-up of 10 years, 56 of 204 patients recurred. Median OS was 26 years. Most toxicities were mild or moderate in severity. The authors conclude that high-dose PRT following surgical resection is effective with low rates of toxicity.