Enhancement of Neurocognitive Functions by Hippocampal Sparing Radiotherapy
Enhancement of Neurocognitive Functions by Hippocampal Sparing Radiotherapy
This randomized trial examines possible enhancements in live quality and neurocognitive
 functions in patients after radiotherapy of the neurocranial area with hippocampal sparing.
 Although the hippocampus has a crucial role in regard to neurocognition and memory,
 hippocampal region has been relatively disregarded in radiotherapy of neurocranium so far.
 Brain metastases in the hippocampal region are very rare and an infiltration of the
 hippocampus by meningioma or by pituitary adenoma just occurs when volume of the tumor is
 very high. This study aims to reduce the radiation dose in the hippocampal region to improve
 the quality of live and neurocognitive functions in patients without degrading prognosis or
 increasing probability of brain metastases in hippocampal region.

 Primary endpoint of the trial is quality of live and neurocognitive functions in patients
 after radiation of neurocranial region with hippocampal sparing compared with conventional
 radiotherapy of the neurocranial region without hippocampal sparing. Secondary endpoints are
 cerebral recurrence rate in hippocampal region and overall survival. It is planned to include
 a total number of 150 patients.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  minimum age 18

 -  diseases indicating a radiotherapy of neurocranial area (histologically or
 image-guided confirmed (skull base)meningioma,pituitary adenoma,brain metastases,
 SCLC)

 -  indication for a local radiotherapy in neurocranial area or for a radiation of whole
 neurocranium

 -  Karnofsky-State ≥ 50%

 -  patient has understand content of study protocol

 -  Signed study-specific consent form prior to therapy

 Exclusion Criteria

 -  pregnant or nursing women

 -  Fertile patients who refuse effective contraception during study treatment

 -  persistent drug and/or alcohol abuse

 -  prior radiotherapy of neurocranial region

 -  patients not able or willing to behave according to study protocol

 -  in the case of malignancy: more than 3 brain metastases

 -  in the case of malignancy: brain metastases in hippocampal region or in the
 hippocampus avoidance zone

 -  GTV in hippocampal region or in the hippocampus avoidance zone

 -  patients in care

 -  patients who are not able to speak German

 -  conditions that preclude the application of MRT (e.g. magnetic implants, cardiac
 pacemaker)

 -  on-treatment participation on other trials