title: Postoperative survival in patients with multiple brain metastases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although surgery is traditionally performed for patients with a single brain metastasis, an increasing number of patients with multiple brain metastases may also be treated surgically. The objective of the study was to analyze postoperative survival results and the clinical factors affecting these results.
  
  
  METHODS
  The records of the patients who underwent surgical resection of 2 or more lesions between January 2005 and January 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. Survival was calculated from the date of surgery to the last follow-up evaluation or death, and different clinical factors were analyzed in regard to patient survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 36 patients underwent one or more craniotomies. The survival of the total group ranged from 16 days to 37.5 months (mean, 29 months). There were 4 deaths within 30 days. When divided into Radiation Therapy Oncology Group RPA classes, the survival time was 11.75, 8.58, and 5.31 months for classes 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Regarding an impact on the survival, a significant association with a favorable outcome was found for the following factors: the number of brain metastases (2-3 vs. 4-6, P=0.046), RPA classes (1 vs. 2 or 3, P=0.0192), and extent of metastasis resection (all vs. partial, P=0.018).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Well-selected patients with multiple brain metastases appear to benefit from surgery compared with historical controls of patients treated with whole-brain radiotherapy alone.
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgery Department, Riga East Clinical University Hospital Gailezers, Hipokrāta 2, 1038 Riga, Latvia. ka75@inbox.lv
authors.forename: Kaspars
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Auslands
authors.forename: Daina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Apškalne
authors.forename: Kārlis
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bicāns
authors.forename: Rolfs
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ozols
authors.forename: Henrijs
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ozoliņš
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D003399:Craniotomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008097:Lithuania / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged