[Stereotactic radiotherapy for multiple brain metastases].
OBJECTIVE
Stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) has obvious advantages in treating intracranial tumors, but there are few reports about application of SRT to multiple intracranial tumors. This paper summarized the therapy outcome of patients with multiple brain metastases, and evaluated the efficacy and application of SRT.


METHODS
Clinical data of 136 patients with multiple brain metastases received radiotherapy from Jun. 1996 to Dec. 2002 were reviewed. Of the 136 patients, 52(38.2%) received conventional radiotherapy alone (CR group), 84(61.8%) received SRT or SRT plus whole brain radiotherapy (SRT group).


RESULTS
Clinical effective rate, and elimination rate of brain metastases (diameter of > 20 mm) were significantly higher in SRT group than in CR group (96.4% vs. 86.5%, P=0.02; 70.4% vs. 36.0%, P=0.007). Persistent brain edema rate was 8.3% in SRT group, and 9.6% in CR group (P=0.767). Intracranial tumor recurrence rate was 25.0% in SRT group, and 19.4% in CR group (P=0.653). Median survival time was significantly longer in SRT group than in CR group (10.5 months vs. 6.5 months, P=0.014); 1-year survival rate was significantly higher in SRT group than in CR group (40.5% vs. 21.2%, P=0.023).


CONCLUSIONS
Reasonable application of SRT could improve life quality and treatment outcome of patients with multiple brain metastases, reduce intracranial tumor recurrence and radiation damage, and prolong patients'survival time.
Xia
Huo-Sheng
HS
Department of Radiotherapy, The 309th Clinical Division, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100091, P. R. China. 309h@sina.com
Han
Shou-Yun
SY
Li
Ping
P
Liu
Zhi-Chen
ZC
Tang
Ping-Yuan
PY
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000209:etiology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D016634:Radiosurgery / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate