[Early and late results of radiation and combined modality therapy of hemangiomas of the spine].

The authors described the results of therapy of 74 spinal hemangioma patients. The patients were divided into 2 groups: 1--radiotherapy only; 2--radiotherapy following surgical intervention for enhanced symptoms of spinal compression. Gamma-beam therapy was given 5 times a week at a single dose of 0.8-1.2 Gy. A total dose delivered to the cervical spine was 26-32 Gy, to the thoracic spine--28-30 Gy, to the lumbar spine--30-34 Gy. Field sizes varied from 3 X 4 to 3 X 12 cm depending on lesion spreading. Therapy also included traction on a special platform bed. An analysis of long-term therapeutic results (from 3 to 13 yrs.) has shown that clinical convalescence with regained working capacity in the 1st group (40 patients) was observed in 21 patients, in the 2nd group (34 patients)--in 5 patients only. Partial functional restoration was observed in both groups (19 patients in each group). The therapy applied was ineffective in 10 patients of the 2nd group.