title: Predicting Survival After Irradiation for Brain Metastases from Head and Neck Cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patients with cerebral metastases from head and neck cancer are not common. This study aimed to create an instrument for estimating survival in this particular group of patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Survival was significantly influenced by Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance score, number of cerebral lesions and extracranial metastatic disease. These characteristics were included in our score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Scoring was based on 6-month survival data: ECOG 0-1=1 point, ECOG 2-3=0 points, 1-3 cerebral lesions=1 point, ≥4 cerebral lesions=0 points, lack of extracranial metastases=1 point, and presence of extracranial metastases=0 points. Addition of these points for each patient resulted in 0-3 points. Three groups were built comprising 0-1, 2 and 3 points. Six-month survival rates for these groups were 0%, 50% and 100%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This new instrument guides physicians in choosing optimal irradiation programs for patients with cerebral metastases from head-and-neck cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany Rades.Dirk@gmx.net.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rades
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: Liesa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dziggel
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: Samer G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Hakim
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, Saad Specialist Hospital, Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rudat
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany Medical Practice for Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Medicine and Oncology Center, Bach Mai Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam.
authors.forename: Ngo Thuy
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Trang
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Medicine and Oncology Center, Bach Mai Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam Nuclear Medicine Department, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam.
authors.forename: Mai Trong
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Khoa
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Oncology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bartscht
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D047368:Tumor Burden
keywords: Head-and-neck cancer; cerebral metastases; instrument; survival; whole-brain irradiation