[Stereotactic radiosurgery with the gamma knife for brain metastases in patients with lung cancer].
Between February 1992 and April 1993, six patients with lung cancer were treated with gamma knife radiosurgery for brain metastases. Five patients had adenocarcinoma, and one patient had small cell carcinoma. Two patients had solitary metastases, and four patients had multiple metastases. Twelve metastases were treated with the gamma knife (peripheral dose between 12 Gy and 25 Gy). After radiosurgery, three complete and eight partial responses were achieved, which resulted in an overall response rate of 92%. In two patients, histological studies showed that few viable cells were surrounded by necrosis. Neurological status improved in all patients, and none died of complications. However, four of six patients later developed new intracranial metastases outside the treatment field. These data suggest that radiosurgery with the gamma knife is effective against brain metastases in patients with lung cancer, especially when the lesions are deep in the brain.
Morikawa
T
T
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Yokohama Rosai Hospital, Japan.
Takeuchi
K
K
Fujino
H
H
Fukumura
M
M
Kimura
M
M
Furuie
H
H
Nagano
N
N
Kakuta
Y
Y
Tashiro
Y
Y
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D000368:Aged; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016634:Radiosurgery