Controversies in the management of multiple brain metastases: the roles of radiosurgery and radiation therapy.
Multiple brain metastases (BrM) are a common challenge to patients with cancer. Tumour resection is used mainly for patients with large tumours that cause acute neurological syndromes. The prognosis, even after treatment with whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT), is poor with average expected survivals less than six months. For this reason, numerous centres have evaluated the role of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in patients with solitary or multiple tumours. We conducted a randomised trial that compared radiosurgery plus WBRT to WBRT alone. The rate of local failure at one year was 100% after WBRT alone but only 8% in patients who had boost radiosurgery. The median time to local failure was six months after WBRT alone in comparison to 36 months after WBRT plus radiosurgery (p=0.0005). The median time to any brain failure was improved in the radiosurgery group (p=0.002). Survival was related to extent of extracranial disease (p=0.02). Combined WBRT and radiosurgery for patients with two to four BrM significantly improves control of brain disease. WBRT alone, for years the standard treatment, does not appear to provide lasting and effective care for most patients. Controversies remain in patient selection, number of BrM suitable for treatment, concomitant management of extracranial disease, and timing of therapy.
Kondziolka
D
D
Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA.
Lunsford
L D
LD
Flickinger
J C
JC
D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D016634:Radiosurgery