About this Research Topic

Background

Benign intracranial tumors, which predominantly include meningiomas, vestibular schwannomas, pituitary adenomas, craniopharyngiomas, hemangioblastomas, and glomus tumors, present a unique treatment paradigm within the dynamic field of oncology. While some of these tumors grow slowly and may not require immediate intervention if asymptomatic, symptomatic or growing tumors often necessitate surgical removal, the gold standard of treatment. However, when surgical intervention is not feasible due to the tumor's location or the patient's general condition, or in cases of postoperative residual tumor growth or local relapse, radiation therapy emerges as a critical alternative.
This Frontiers research topic aims to delve into the nuanced balance between delivering effective treatment and preserving the integrity of surrounding healthy brain tissue. It seeks to compile a comprehensive collection of research, reviews, and perspectives that highlight the rapid technological advancements and the drive towards precision medicine in treating these non-malignant yet potentially impactful brain tumors.
We invite contributions that spotlight the integration of cutting-edge radiation therapy strategies, address the clinical challenges encountered in treatment, and explore the potential for future innovations. This research topic stands at the confluence of technological evolution and the imperative for precision in the management of benign intracranial tumors, aiming to illuminate both the current state of the field and its forward direction. Through this compilation, we aspire to foster a multidisciplinary dialogue that will enhance understanding, improve patient outcomes, and pave the way for the next wave of advancements in this critical area of oncology.

We will welcome manuscripts focusing, but not limited to, the following subtopics:
• Innovative Radiation Therapy Techniques: Papers that detail the application and outcomes of novel radiation therapy approaches to treating benign intracranial tumors, including but not limited to stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT), and proton beam therapy. Contributions may also explore advancements in imaging, planning, and delivery systems that enhance treatment precision and patient safety.
• Clinical Challenges and Solutions: Manuscripts that discuss the complexities of treating benign intracranial tumors with radiation therapy. This includes considerations of tumor localization, size, and proximity to critical structures, as well as strategies for minimizing side effects and optimizing quality of life post-treatment.
• Patient Selection and Personalized Treatment Plans: Studies that examine criteria for selecting appropriate candidates for radiation therapy and how individual patient characteristics influence treatment planning and outcomes.
• Long-term Outcomes and Follow-up Care: Research on the long-term efficacy and safety of radiation therapy in benign intracranial tumor patients, including the management of late effects and the role of surveillance imaging in detecting recurrences or radiation-induced changes.
• Future Prospects and Research Directions: Forward-looking papers that speculate on the next generation of radiation therapy techniques, including the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning in treatment planning, novel radioprotective agents, and the development of adaptive radiation therapy protocols.

Submission Guidelines:
We invite original research articles, review articles, and technical reports that contribute to our understanding of current and future approaches in the radiation therapy of benign intracranial tumors. We welcome manuscripts that include work ranging from pediatric to adult. However, work purely in silico/bioinformatic analyses without clinical validation in an independent patient cohort and/or functional validation in vitro and/or in vivo are not within scope. Submissions should adhere to the journal's guidelines and be formatted according to its submission template.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Benign Intracranial Tumors, Meningiomas, Vestibular Schwannomas, Pituitary Adenomas, Craniopharyngiomas, Hemangioblastomas, Glomus Tumors, Oncology, Symptomatic Tumors, Asymptomatic Tumors, Surgical Intervention, Residual Tumor Growth

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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