title: Characteristics and treatments of large cystic brain metastasis: radiosurgery and stereotactic aspiration.
abstract: Brain metastasis represents one of the most common causes of intracranial tumors in adults, and the incidence of brain metastasis continues to rise due to the increasing survival of cancer patients. Yet, the development of cystic brain metastasis remains a relatively rare occurrence. In this review, we describe the characteristics of cystic brain metastasis and evaluate the combined use of stereotactic aspiration and radiosurgery in treating large cystic brain metastasis. The results of several studies show that stereotactic radiosurgery produces comparable local tumor control and survival rates as other surgery protocols. When the size of the tumor interferes with radiosurgery, stereotactic aspiration of the metastasis should be considered to reduce the target volume as well as decreasing the chance of radiation induced necrosis and providing symptomatic relief from mass effect. The combined use of stereotactic aspiration and radiosurgery has strong implications in improving patient outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Moinay
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cheok
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Lawrance K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Nolan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ung
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thill
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Brittany
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Voth
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Do Hoon
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Jin
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA. ; Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tenn
authors.affiliation: Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA. ; Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Percy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA. ; Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Isaac
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yang
keywords: Brain; Drainage; Metastases; Radiosurgery