title: Defining the Optimal Dose of Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Treating Cerebral Metastases in Elderly Patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In oncology, elderly people are a separate group of patients requiring special consideration. This applies to the treatment of cerebral metastases as well. The present study focused on elderly patients receiving stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for few cerebral lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 95 patients aged ≥65 years, two SRS doses, 16-18 Gy (n=44) and 20 Gy (n=51), were compared regarding outcomes of SRS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall intracerebral control rates at 12 months were 30% after 16-18 Gy and 45% after 20 Gy (p=0.53). Twelve-month rates of freedom from new intracerebral lesions were 41% and 52%, respectively (p=0.63). Twelve-month local control rates of the irradiated lesions were 55% and 81%, respectively (p=0.069). Overall survival rates at 12 months were 29% and 31%, respectively (p=0.67).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SRS with 16-18 Gy was not significantly inferior to SRS with 20 Gy in elderly patients with few cerebral metastases.
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: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dahlke
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: Liesa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dziggel
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: Department of Radiotherapy, University Medical Center Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Amira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bajrovic
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 Department of Nuclear Mediciume, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam.
authors.forename: Mai Trong
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Khoa
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Steven E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Schild
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011379:Prognosis; D016634:Radiosurgery / Q000401:mortality* / Q000592:standards*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
keywords: Elderly patients; cerebral metastases; optimal dose; stereotactic radiosurgery; treatment results