title: A review of the clinical outcomes for patients diagnosed with brainstem metastasis and treated with stereotactic radiosurgery.
abstract: Only 3%-5% of all brain metastases are located in the brainstem. We present a comprehensive review of the clinical outcomes from modern studies that treated patients with brainstem metastasis using either a Gamma Knife or a linear accelerator-based stereotactic radiosurgery. The median survival time of patients was compared to better understand what clinical or treatment factors are predictive of improved survival. This information can then be utilized to optimize patient care. The data suggests that higher prescribed marginal dose and the associated greater local control of brainstem lesions are associated with longer patient survival. Further research is necessary to better describe the most effective dose for individual brainstem lesions and to tailor optimum therapy to specific patient subgroups.
authors.affiliation: Gamma Knife of Spokane, 910 W 5th Avenue, Suite 102, Spokane, WA 99204, USA ; Cancer Care Northwest, Deaconess Health and Education Building, 910 W 5th Avenue, Suite 102, Spokane, WA 99204, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Lamm
authors.forename: Ameer L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Elaimy
authors.forename: Wayne T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Lamoreaux
authors.forename: Alexander R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Mackay
authors.forename: Robert K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Fairbanks
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Demakas
authors.forename: Barton S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Cooke
authors.forename: Christopher M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lee