The Energy Index Does Not Affect Local Control of Brain Metastases Treated by Gamma Knife Stereotactic Radiosurgery

Neurosurgery ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 119-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashish Jani ◽  
Tzlil Rozenblat ◽  
Andrew M. Yaeh ◽  
Tavish Nanda ◽  
Shumaila Saad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multivariate Analysis ◽  
Brain Metastases ◽  
Gamma Knife ◽  
Local Control ◽  
Tumor Volume ◽  
Complete Response ◽  
Local Failure ◽  
Energy Index ◽  
Prescription Dose

Abstract BACKGROUND: The energy index (EI) is a measure of dose homogeneity within a target volume calculated by the integral dose divided by the product of prescription dose and tumor volume. OBJECTIVE: To assess whether a higher EI is associated with greater local control for brain metastases (BMs) treated by Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS). METHODS: We reviewed all patients treated with GKRS for BM at our institution between January 2009 and February 2014. Data on the prescription dose, prescription isodose line, minimum dose, mean dose, integral dose, tumor volume, and EI were collected. Tumor response was assessed by reviewing follow-up brain imaging studies and classified according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors. Local control per lesion and dosimetric prognostic factors for local control were assessed by univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analyses. RESULTS: Of 213 patients treated, 126 had follow-up imaging available with a median follow-up of 6 months. Three hundred seventy-three individual tumors were analyzed. Of these, 133 showed a complete response, 157 showed a partial response, 46 remained stable, and 37 developed local failure. Tumors with EI ≥1.6 mJ.mL−1.Gy−1 showed a higher rate of complete response. Local control rates at 6, 11, and 17 months were 95.4%, 86.5%, and 81.5%, respectively. On univariate analysis, the following factors were associated with higher rates of local failure: prescription doses of 16 and 18 Gy compared with a prescription dose of 20 Gy. The following factors were associated with a greater rate of local control: maximum dose and mean dose. On multivariate analysis, the only statistically significant factor associated with a greater rate of local failure was prescription dose of 16 Gy compared with 20 Gy. CONCLUSION: GKRS for BM results in a high rate of local control with an 11-month rate of 86.5%. A higher EI was not significantly associated with a higher rate of local control on multivariate analysis. Prescription dose was found to be the only significant predictor of local control on multivariate analysis.

scholarly journals RADI-05. FRACTIONATED TREATMENT OF BRAIN METASTASES WITH GAMMA KNIFE ICON

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. i22-i22
Author(s):  
Jameson Mendel ◽  
Ankur Patel ◽  
Toral Patel ◽  
Robert Timmerman ◽  
Tu Dan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Metastasis ◽  
Brain Metastases ◽  
Gamma Knife ◽  
Local Control ◽  
Stereotactic Radiotherapy ◽  
Tumor Volume ◽  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
Local Failure ◽  
Fractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy

Abstract PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S): Stereotactic radiosurgery with Gamma Knife is a common treatment modality for patients with brain metastasis. The Gamma Knife ICON allows for immobilization with an aquaplast mask, permitting fractionated treatments. We describe one of the first experiences utilizing this technique with brain metastasis and evaluate outcomes. MATERIALS/METHODS: From June 2017 to November 2018, 29 patients with 43 separate intracranial lesions were treated with fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy using the gamma knife ICON at a single institution. Patients received between 20–30 Gy in 3–5 fractions with no margin over the course of 5 to 23 days. Local control was physician assessed. Local failure over time was modeled using cumulative incidence; lesions were censored at last radiographic follow up. RESULTS: Median tumor volume and prescription isodose was 7.7 cm3 (range 0.3–43.9) and 50% (range 40–65), respectively. Median radiographic follow-up was 7 months and median survival was 9 months. Radiation necrosis occurred in 3/3 patients treated with 27 Gy in 3 fractions, one requiring therapeutic resection. Incidence of local failure for all treated lesions was 9% at 1 year. Tumor volume >7 cm3 was associated with local failure on univariate analysis (p=0.025). 100% (2/2) lesions treated with 20 Gy in 5 fractions developed local recurrence. CONCLUSION: Fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy with the Gamma Knife ICON provides excellent local control for small and large brain metastases with minimal toxicity. Tumors >7 cm3 should receive at least 30 Gy in 5 fractions for optimal control. Treatment with 27 Gy in 3 fractions appears to have high rates of treatment related toxicity and should be avoided.

scholarly journals RTHP-11. THE EFFECT OF PRESCRIPTION ISODOSE LINE ON LOCAL CONTROL AND RADIOGRAPHIC RESPONSE IN GAMMA KNIFE RADIOSURGERY OF VESTIBULAR SCHWANNOMA

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (Supplement_6) ◽  
pp. vi212-vi212
Author(s):  
Achiraya Teyateeti ◽  
Christopher Graffeo ◽  
Avital Perry ◽  
Paul Brown ◽  
Bruce Pollock ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gamma Knife ◽  
Local Control ◽  
Tumor Volume ◽  
Gamma Knife Radiosurgery ◽  
Hearing Preservation ◽  
History Of ◽  
Prescription Dose ◽  
Preservation Rate ◽  
Prescription Isodose

Abstract Traditionally, the 50% isodose line (IDL) is used for prescription dose when vestibular schwannomas (VS) are treated with Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS). To compare the effect of IDL on treatment outcomes, propensity score-matched analysis according to age at time of GKRS and tumor volume (TV) between cohorts treated at 40%IDL and 50%IDL was performed. Patients with no history of neurofibromatosis, GKRS prescribed marginal dose of 12–14 Gy and TV ≤ 10 cc were identified. Patients were excluded if follow-up time was < 2 years. Eventually, 30 and 28 patients were included in 40%IDL and 50%IDL cohorts, respectively. Mean age and TV were not significantly different between 40%IDL and 50%IDL groups; 54.5 versus 54.0 years (p=0.891) and 2148.61 versus 2031.10 mm3 (p=0.844), respectively. Median prescription dose was 12 Gy in both groups. At median follow-up times of 111 and 72 months, the 2, 5 and 10-year local control were 100%, 96.4% and 96.4% for 40%IDL and 96.4%, 86.7%, and 86.7% for 50%IDL (p=0.243), respectively. Among 40 patients with accessible follow-up MRIs (40%IDL-n=19, 50%IDL-n=21), volume reduction at last follow-up MRIs and rate of reduction per year for 40%IDL and 50%IDL were 48.1% versus 38.3% (p=0.05) and 5.5% versus 6% (p=0.749), respectively. Of 21 patients with serviceable hearing prior to GKRS and available audiograms after GKRS (40%IDL-n=8, 50%IDL-n=13), the 2, 5 and 10-year hearing preservation rate were 100%, 83.3% and 62.5% for 40%IDL versus 76.2%, 57.1% and 11.4% for 50%IDL (p=0.017). Facial paresthesia, facial palsy and ataxia/gait disturbance requiring steroid and/or shunt were lower in 40%IDL compared to the 50%IDL; 6.7% versus 17.9% (p=0.208) and 3.3% versus 7.1% (p=0.532). To summarize, VS treated at 40%IDL have slightly better local control, although not statistically significant, compared to tumors treated at 50%IDL. However, hearing preservation and safety seem to be more favorable toward 40%IDL group.

Impact of the radiosurgery prescription dose on the local control of small (2 cm or smaller) brain metastases

2017 ◽  
Vol 126 (3) ◽  
pp. 735-743 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alireza M. Mohammadi ◽  
Jason L. Schroeder ◽  
Lilyana Angelov ◽  
Samuel T. Chao ◽  
Erin S. Murphy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Prognostic Factors ◽  
Brain Metastases ◽  
Local Control ◽  
Radiation Necrosis ◽  
Small Cell ◽  
Small Cell Lung ◽  
Local Progression ◽  
Prescription Dose

OBJECTIVE The impact of the stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) prescription dose (PD) on local progression and radiation necrosis for small (≤ 2 cm) brain metastases was evaluated. METHODS An institutional review board–approved retrospective review was performed on 896 patients with brain metastases ≤ 2 cm (3034 tumors) who were treated with 1229 SRS procedures between 2000 and 2012. Local progression and/or radiation necrosis were the primary end points. Each tumor was followed from the date of radiosurgery until one of the end points was reached or the last MRI follow-up. Various criteria were used to differentiate tumor progression and radiation necrosis, including the evaluation of serial MRIs, cerebral blood volume on perfusion MR, FDG-PET scans, and, in some cases, surgical pathology. The median radiographic follow-up per lesion was 6.2 months. RESULTS The median patient age was 56 years, and 56% of the patients were female. The most common primary pathology was non–small cell lung cancer (44%), followed by breast cancer (19%), renal cell carcinoma (14%), melanoma (11%), and small cell lung cancer (5%). The median tumor volume and median largest diameter were 0.16 cm3 and 0.8 cm, respectively. In total, 1018 lesions (34%) were larger than 1 cm in maximum diameter. The PD for 2410 tumors (80%) was 24 Gy, for 408 tumors (13%) it was 19 to 23 Gy, and for 216 tumors (7%) it was 15 to 18 Gy. In total, 87 patients (10%) had local progression of 104 tumors (3%), and 148 patients (17%) had at least radiographic evidence of radiation necrosis involving 199 tumors (7%; 4% were symptomatic). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed for local progression and radiation necrosis. For local progression, tumors less than 1 cm (subhazard ratio [SHR] 2.32; p < 0.001), PD of 24 Gy (SHR 1.84; p = 0.01), and additional whole-brain radiation therapy (SHR 2.53; p = 0.001) were independently associated with better outcome. For the development of radiographic radiation necrosis, independent prognostic factors included size greater than 1 cm (SHR 2.13; p < 0.001), location in the corpus callosum (SHR 5.72; p < 0.001), and uncommon pathologies (SHR 1.65; p = 0.05). Size (SHR 4.78; p < 0.001) and location (SHR 7.62; p < 0.001)—but not uncommon pathologies—were independent prognostic factors for the subgroup with symptomatic radiation necrosis. CONCLUSIONS A PD of 24 Gy results in significantly better local control of metastases measuring < 2 cm than lower doses. In addition, tumor size is an independent prognostic factor for both local progression and radiation necrosis. Some tumor pathologies and locations may also contribute to an increased risk of radiation necrosis.

scholarly journals RADI-32. INTRACRANIAL CONTROL AND RADIONECROSIS IN MELANOMA PATIENTS WITH BRAIN METASTASES TREATED WITH STEREOTACTIC RADIOSURGERY

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. i28-i28
Author(s):  
Michael Tjong ◽  
Fabio Moraes ◽  
David Shultz
Keyword(s):  
Brain Metastases ◽  
Stereotactic Radiosurgery ◽  
Local Control ◽  
Brain Mri ◽  
Lesion Size ◽  
Kaplan Meier ◽  
Prescription Dose ◽  
Melanoma Patients ◽  
The Brain

Abstract PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S): Melanoma commonly metastasizes to the brain and is radioresistant. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) confers durable local control of brain metastases (BM) while maintaining neurocognitive function. These advantages are increasingly important as survival among these patients improves secondary to advances in systemic therapies. This study investigated the local control (LC), intracranial PFS (iPFS), freedom from radionecrosis (FFRN), and overall survival (OS) among melanoma patients receiving SRS for BM. MATERIALS/METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed clinical outcomes of melanoma patients with brain metastases treated with SRS between October 2008 and January 2017 in a large academic centre. Post-SRS, patients were followed in a multidisciplinary clinic with clinical examination and brain MRI every 3 months. Survival outcomes were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: In total, 97 patients with 283 brain metastases (including 12 surgical cavities) treated with SRS were identified. Median age was 60.5 (24.4–90.7). Median follow-up was 9.6 (2.2–74.7) months after first SRS. Median prescription dose was 21 (10–24) Gy delivered in a single fraction. Thirty (30.9%) patients had WBRT post-SRS, 36 (37.1%) patients had BRAF-positive disease. Per lesion (N=283), 1-year LC and FFRN were 84.4%, and 90.1%, respectively; medians were not achieved for either LC or FFRN. Radionecrosis (RN) occurred in 20 (7.1%) lesions. Per patient (N=97), median OS and iPFS were 16.0 and 5.3 months, respectively; 1-year OS and iPFS rates were 62.0%, and 30.1%, respectively. CONCLUSION: SRS resulted in excellent rates of LC, with a low risk of RN. However, most patients developed intracranial progression within 1 year. Further analyses to establish correlates (lesion size, SRS dose, and molecular status) to LC, FFRN, OS, and iPFS will be performed prior to the final presentation.

Gamma Knife surgery for patients with nonfunctioning pituitary macroadenomas: predictors of tumor control, neurological deficits, and hypopituitarism

2012 ◽  
Vol 117 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert M. Starke ◽  
Brian J. Williams ◽  
John A. Jane ◽  
Jason P. Sheehan
Keyword(s):  
Multivariate Analysis ◽  
Tumor Progression ◽  
Gamma Knife ◽  
Neurological Deficit ◽  
Tumor Volume ◽  
Neurological Deficits ◽  
Tumor Control ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Pituitary Macroadenomas

Object Nonfunctioning pituitary macroadenomas often recur after microsurgery and thereby require further treatment. Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) has been used to treat recurrent adenomas. In this study, the authors evaluated outcomes following GKS of nonfunctioning pituitary macroadenomas and assessed predictors of tumor control, neurological deficits, and delayed hypopituitarism. Methods Between June 1989 and March 2010, 140 consecutive patients with nonfunctioning pituitary macroadenomas were treated using GKS at the University of Virginia. The median patient age was 51 years (range 21–82 years), and 56% of patients were male. Mean tumor volume was 5.6 cm3 (range 0.6–35 cm3). Thirteen patients were treated with GKS as primary therapy, and 127 had undergone at least 1 open resection prior to GKS. Ninety-three patients had a history of hormone therapy prior to GKS. The mean maximal dose of GKS was 38.6 Gy (range 10–70 Gy), the mean marginal dose was 18 Gy (range 5–25 Gy), and the mean number of isocenters was 9.8 (range 1–26). Follow-up evaluations were performed in all 140 patients, ranging from 0.5 to 17 years (mean 5 years, median 4.2 years). Results Tumor volume remained stable or decreased in 113 (90%) of 125 patients with available follow-up imaging. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated radiographic progression free survival at 2, 5, 8, and 10 years to be 98%, 97%, 91%, and 87%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, a tumor volume greater than 5 cm3 (hazard ratio = 5.0, 95% CI 1.5–17.2; p = 0.023) was the only factor predictive of tumor growth. The median time to tumor progression was 14.5 years. Delayed hypopituitarism occurred in 30.3% of patients. No factor was predictive of post-GKS hypopituitarism. A new or worsening cranial nerve deficit occurred in 16 (13.7%) of 117 patients. Visual decline was the most common neurological deficit (12.8%), and all patients experiencing visual decline had evidence of tumor progression. In multivariate analysis, a tumor volume greater than 5 cm3 (OR = 3.7, 95% CI 1.2–11.7; p = 0.025) and pre-GKS hypopituitarism (OR = 7.5, 95% CI 1.1–60.8; p = 0.05) were predictive of a new or worsened neurological deficit. Conclusions In patients with nonfunctioning pituitary macroadenomas, GKS confers a high rate of tumor control and a low rate of neurological deficits. The most common complication following GKS is delayed hypopituitarism, and this occurs in a minority of patients.

scholarly journals The effect of targeted agents on outcomes in patients with brain metastases from renal cell carcinoma treated with Gamma Knife surgery

2012 ◽  
Vol 116 (5) ◽  
pp. 978-983 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Clay Cochran ◽  
Michael D. Chan ◽  
Mebea Aklilu ◽  
James F. Lovato ◽  
Natalie K. Alphonse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Renal Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Overall Survival ◽  
Brain Metastases ◽  
Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Gamma Knife ◽  
Local Control ◽  
Renal Cell ◽  
Local Failure ◽  
Targeted Agents ◽  
Distant Failure

Object Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) has been reported as an effective modality for treating brain metastases from renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The authors aimed to determine if targeted agents such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors, mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors, and bevacizumab affect the patterns of failure of RCC after GKS. Methods Between 1999 and 2010, 61 patients with brain metastases from RCC were treated with GKS. A median dose of 20 Gy (range 13–24 Gy) was prescribed to the margin of each metastasis. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to determine local control, distant failure, and overall survival rates. Cox proportional hazard regression was performed to determine the association between disease-related factors and survival. Results Overall survival at 1, 2, and 3 years was 38%, 17%, and 9%, respectively. Freedom from local failure at 1, 2, and 3 years was 74%, 61%, and 40%, respectively. The distant failure rate at 1, 2, and 3 years was 51%, 79%, and 89%, respectively. Twenty-seven percent of patients died of neurological disease. The median survival for patients receiving targeted agents (n = 24) was 16.6 months compared with 7.2 months (n = 37) for those not receiving targeted therapy (p = 0.04). Freedom from local failure at 1 year was 93% versus 60% for patients receiving and those not receiving targeted agents, respectively (p = 0.01). Multivariate analysis showed that the use of targeted agents (hazard ratio 3.02, p = 0.003) was the only factor that predicted for improved survival. Two patients experienced post-GKS hemorrhage within the treated volume. Conclusions Targeted agents appear to improve local control and overall survival in patients treated with GKS for metastastic RCC.

GAMMA KNIFE RADIOSURGERY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF MALIGNANT MELANOMA BRAIN METASTASES

Neurosurgery ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 471-482 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Mathieu ◽  
Douglas Kondziolka ◽  
Patrick B. Cooper ◽  
John C. Flickinger ◽  
Ajay Niranjan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Malignant Melanoma ◽  
Brain Metastases ◽  
Gamma Knife ◽  
Local Control ◽  
Tumor Volume ◽  
Systemic Disease ◽  
Gamma Knife Radiosurgery ◽  
Karnofsky Performance Score ◽  
Performance Score ◽  
Melanoma Brain Metastases

Abstract OBJECTIVE Radiosurgery is increasingly used to manage malignant melanoma brain metastases. We reviewed our series of patients who underwent radiosurgery for melanoma brain metastases to assess clinical outcomes and identify prognostic factors for survival and cerebral disease control. METHODS Two hundred forty-four patients had radiosurgery for the management of 754 metastatic tumors. A mean of 2.6 tumors were irradiated per procedure. The median tumor volume was 4.4 cm3. The median margin and maximum doses used were 18 and 32 Gy, respectively. RESULTS The median survival was 5.3 months after radiosurgery (mean, 10 mo; range, 0.2–114.3 mo). Patients survived a median of 7.8 months (mean, 13.4 mo) from the diagnosis of brain metastases and 44.9 months (mean, 69 mo) after the diagnosis of the primary tumor. Survival was better in patients with controlled systemic disease (12.7 mo), single brain metastasis (6.8 mo), and a Karnofsky performance score of 90 or 100% (6.3 mo). Sustained local control was achieved in 86.2% of tumors. Increased tumor volume and previous evidence of hemorrhage increased the risk of local failure. Multiple lesions and failure to provide systemic immunotherapy were predictors for the occurrence of new brain metastases, which developed in 41.7% of the patients. Symptomatic radiation changes occurred in 6.6% of the patients. Overall, 71.4% of the patients improved or remained clinically stable. Brain disease was the cause of death in 40.5% of the patients, usually from the development of new metastases. CONCLUSION Gamma knife radiosurgery for malignant melanoma brain metastases is safe and effective and provides a high rate of durable local control. Improved survival can be achieved in patients with single metastasis, controlled systemic disease, and a high Karnofsky performance score.

Gamma Knife surgery of meningiomas located in the posterior fossa: factors predictive of outcome and remission

2011 ◽  
Vol 114 (5) ◽  
pp. 1399-1409 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert M. Starke ◽  
James H. Nguyen ◽  
Jessica Rainey ◽  
Brian J. Williams ◽  
Jonathan H. Sherman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multivariate Analysis ◽  
Tumor Progression ◽  
Posterior Fossa ◽  
Gamma Knife ◽  
Tumor Volume ◽  
Gamma Knife Surgery ◽  
Neurological Deficits ◽  
Tumor Margin ◽  
Kaplan Meier

Object Although numerous studies have analyzed the role of stereotactic radiosurgery for intracranial meningiomas, few studies have assessed outcomes of posterior fossa meningiomas after stereotactic radiosurgery. In this study, the authors evaluate the outcomes of posterior fossa meningiomas treated with Gamma Knife surgery (GKS). The authors also assess factors predictive of new postoperative neurological deficits and tumor progression. Methods A retrospective review was performed of a prospectively compiled database documenting the outcomes of 152 patients with posterior fossa meningiomas treated at the University of Virginia from 1990 to 2006. All patients had a minimum follow-up of 24 months. There were 30 males and 122 females, with a median age of 58 years (range 12–82 years). Seventy-five patients were treated with radiosurgery initially, and 77 patients were treated with GKS after resection. Patients were assessed clinically and radiographically at routine intervals following GKS. Factors predictive of new neurological deficit following GKS were assessed via univariate and multivariate analysis, and Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox multivariate regression analysis were used to assess factors predictive of tumor progression. Results Patients had meningiomas centered over the tentorium (35 patients, 23%), cerebellopontine angle (43 patients, 28%), petroclival region (28 patients, 18%), petrous region (6 patients, 4%), and clivus (40 patients, 26%). The median follow-up was 7 years (range 2–16 years). The mean preradiosurgical tumor volume was 5.7 cm3 (range 0.3–33 cm3), and mean postradiosurgical tumor volume was 4.9 cm3 (range 0.1–33 cm3). At last follow-up, 55 patients (36%) displayed no change in tumor volume, 78 (51%) displayed a decrease in volume, and 19 (13%) displayed an increase in volume. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated radiographic progression-free survival at 3, 5, and 10 years to be 98%, 96%, and 78%, respectively. In Cox multivariable analysis, pre-GKS covariates associated with tumor progression included age greater than 65 years (hazard ratio [HR] 3.24, 95% CI 1.12–9.37; p = 0.03) and a low dose to the tumor margin (HR 0.76, 95% CI 0.60–0.97; p = 0.03), and post-GKS covariates included shunt-dependent hydrocephalus (HR 25.0, 95% CI 3.72–100.0; p = 0.001). At last clinical follow-up, 139 patients (91%) demonstrated no change or improvement in their neurological condition, and 13 patients showed symptom deterioration (9%). In multivariate analysis, the only factors predictive of new or worsening symptoms were clival or petrous location (OR 4.0, 95% CI 1.1–13.7; p = 0.03). Conclusions Gamma Knife surgery offers an acceptable rate of tumor control for posterior fossa meningiomas and accomplishes this with a low incidence of neurological deficits. In patients selected for GKS, tumor progression is associated with age greater than 65 years and decreasing dose to the tumor margin. Clival- or petrous-based locations are predictive of an increased risk of new or worsening neurological deficit following GKS.

Local Control of Newly Diagnosed and Distally Recurrent, Low-Volume Brain Metastases With Fixed-Dose (20 Gy) Gamma Knife Radiosurgery

Neurosurgery ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 921-931 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert E. Elliott ◽  
Stephen C. Rush ◽  
Amr Morsi ◽  
Nisha Mehta ◽  
Jeri Spriet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Metastases ◽  
Gamma Knife ◽  
Local Control ◽  
Karnofsky Performance Status ◽  
Performance Status ◽  
Gamma Knife Radiosurgery ◽  
Neurological Complications ◽  
Fixed Dose ◽  
Outcome Analysis

Abstract BACKGROUND: Metastases to the brain occur in 20% to 30% of patients with cancer and have been identified on autopsy in as many as 50% of patients. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the efficacy of 20-Gy Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKR) as initial treatment in patients with 1 to 3 brain metastases ≤ 2 cm in greatest diameter. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 114 consecutive adults with Karnofsky performance status ≥ 60 who received GKR for 1 to 3 brain metastases ≤ 2 cm in size was performed. Five patients lacked detailed follow-up and were excluded, leaving 109 for outcome analysis (34 men and 75 women; median age, 61.2 years). All metastases received 20 Gy to the 50% isodose line. RESULTS: One hundred nine patients underwent treatment of 164 metastases at initial GKR. Twenty-six patients (23.9%) were alive at last follow-up (median time, 29.9 months; range, 6.6 months to 7.8 years). The median overall survival was 13.8 months (range, 1 day to 7.6 years). Among the 52 patients with distant failure, 33 patients received 20 Gy to 95 new lesions. A total of 259 metastases received 20 Gy, and 4 patients lacked imaging follow-up secondary to death before posttreatment imaging. Local failure occurred in 17 of 255 treated lesions (6.7%), yielding an overall local control rate of 93.3%. Actuarial local control at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months was 96%, 93%, 89%, and 88%, respectively. Permanent neurological complications occurred in 3 patients (2.8%). CONCLUSION: Among patients with 1 to 3 brain metastases ≤ 2 cm in size who have not received whole-brain radiation therapy, GKR with 20 Gy provides high rates of local control with low morbidity and excellent neurological symptom-free survival.

The Role of Tumor Size in the Radiosurgical Management of Patients with Ambiguous Brain Metastases

Neurosurgery ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 272-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric L. Chang ◽  
Samuel J. Hassenbusch ◽  
Almon S. Shiu ◽  
Frederick F. Lang ◽  
Pamela K. Allen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Metastasis ◽  
Brain Metastases ◽  
Local Control ◽  
Medical Records ◽  
Tumor Volume ◽  
Unknown Primary ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Peripheral Dose

Abstract OBJECTIVE To identify a size cutoff below which it is safe to observe obscure brain lesions suspected of being metastases so that treatment of nonmetastases can be avoided. METHODS Medical records from patients who underwent linear accelerator-based radiosurgery from August 1991 to October 2001 were reviewed. Inclusion criteria were defined as brain metastasis tumor volume less than 5 cm3 (diameter, ∼2.1 cm) treated with a dose of 20 Gy or more. One hundred thirty-five patients had 153 evaluable brain metastases with follow-up imaging that met inclusion criteria. Median age was 54 years (range, 18–79 yr). Lesion primaries were non-small-cell lung (n = 39), melanoma (n = 44), renal (n = 37), breast (n = 18), colon (n = 3), sarcoma (n = 5), other (n = 5), and unknown primary (n = 2). Median tumor volume was 0.67 cm3 (range, 0.06–4.58 cm3). The minimum peripheral dose was 20 Gy (n = 132) or 21 to 24 Gy (n = 21). At the time of analysis, the median follow-up for all patients was 10 months (range, 0.2–99 mo). RESULTS The 1- and 2-year actuarial local control rates for all of the lesions were 69 and 46%, respectively. For lesions of 1 cm (0.5 cm3) or less, the corresponding local control rates were 86 and 78%, respectively, which was significantly higher than the corresponding rates of 56 and 24%, respectively, for lesions larger than 1 cm (0.5 cm3) (P = 0.0016). CONCLUSION A convincing brain metastasis measuring less than 1 cm should be pursued aggressively. If the suspected brain metastasis is ambiguous, observation is proposed up to a diameter of 1 cm. This is the first study in the literature to identify a 1-cm cutoff for radiosurgical control of small brain metastases, and validation by additional studies is required.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document