Neurological complications and symptom resolution following Gamma Knife surgery for brain metastases 2 cm or smaller in relation to eloquent cortices

2010 ◽  
Vol 113 (Special_Supplement) ◽  
pp. 53-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert E. Elliott ◽  
Stephen Rush ◽  
Amr Morsi ◽  
Nisha Mehta ◽  
Jeri Spriet ◽  
...  

Object Reports on resection of tumors in or near eloquent cortices have noted neurological complications in up to 30% of patients. This paper contains an analysis of symptom resolution and neurological morbidity following 20-Gy Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) for supratentorial brain metastases ≤ 2 cm in greatest diameter. Methods The authors performed a retrospective analysis of 98 consecutively treated adults (33 men and 65 women with a median age of 61.4 years at the time of GKS) with Karnofsky Performance Scale score ≥ 60, who underwent GKS for supratentorial brain metastases ≤ 2 cm in diameter. Lesion location was classified as noneloquent (Grade I), near eloquent (Grade II), or eloquent (Grade III), in accordance with the grading system developed by the group at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. Following treatment, the patients underwent MR imaging and clinical examinations at 6 weeks and every 3 months thereafter. Results Ninety-eight patients underwent 20-Gy GKS for 131 metastases at initial presentation and 31 patients underwent salvage 20-Gy GKS for 76 new lesions, for a total of 207 lesions (mean lesion volume 0.44 cm3). Lesions were classified as follows: Grade I, 96 (46.4%); Grade II, 51 (24.6%); and Grade III, 60 (29%). Fifteen patients (2 with Grade II and 13 with Grade III lesions) presented with deficits referable to their lesions, yielding pre-GKS deficit rates of 7.2% per lesion and 15.3% per patient. The pre-GKS deficits improved or resolved in 10 patients (66.7%) at a median time of 2.8 months and remained stable in 3 patients (20%). Two patients (13.3%) experienced worsened neurological deficits. One patient who was neurologically intact prior to treatment developed a new hemiparesis (1 of 83 patients [1.2%]). The rates of permanent neurological deterioration following GKS for Grades I, II, and III lesions were 0% (0 of 96 tumors), 2% (1 of 51), and 3.3% (2 of 60), respectively. The pre-GKS neurological deficits and larger lesions were the most significant risk factors for post-GKS neurological deterioration. Conclusions Gamma Knife surgery performed using a 20-Gy dose provides amelioration of neurological deficits from brain metastases that are ≤ 2 cm in diameter and located in or near eloquent cortices in nearly two-thirds of patients with a low incidence of morbidity. Consistent with the surgical literature, higher rates of neurological complications were observed as proximity to eloquent regions and lesion size increased. There was no neurological deterioration in patients harboring metastases in noneloquent areas.

2005 ◽  
Vol 102 (Special_Supplement) ◽  
pp. 262-265
Author(s):  
C. P. Yu ◽  
Joel Y. C. Cheung ◽  
Josie F. K. Chan ◽  
Samuel C. L. Leung ◽  
Robert T. K. Ho

Object. The authors analyzed the factors involved in determining prolonged survival (≥ 24 months) in patients with brain metastases treated by gamma knife surgery (GKS). Methods. Between 1995 and 2003, a total of 116 patients underwent 167 GKS procedures for brain metastases. There was no special case selection. Smaller and larger lesions were treated with different protocols. The mean patient age was 56.9 years, the mean number of initial lesions was 3.15, and the mean lesion volume was 10.45 cm.3 The mean follow-up time was 9.2 months. The median patient survival was 8.68 months. One-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-year actuarial survival rates were 31.8%, 19.8%, 14.6%, 7.7%, and 6.9%, respectively. Patient age, number of lesions at presentation, and lesion volume had no influence on patient survival. Twenty-three (19.8%) patients survived for 24 months or more. Certain factors were associated with increased survival time. These were stable primary disease (21 of 23 patients), a long latency between diagnosis of the primary tumor and the occurrence of brain metastases (mean 28.4 months, median 16 months), absence of third-organ involvement, and repeated local procedures. Ten patients underwent repeated GKS (mean 3.4 per patient). Seven patients required open surgery for local treatment failures (recurrence or radiation necrosis). Two patients had both. Fifteen patients underwent repeated procedures. Conclusions. Aggressive local therapy with GKS, repeated GKS, and GKS plus surgery can achieve increased survival in a subgroup of patients with stable primary disease, no third-organ involvement, and long primary-brain secondary intervals.


2005 ◽  
Vol 102 ◽  
pp. 262-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. P. Yu ◽  
Joel Y. C. Cheung ◽  
Josie F. K. Chan ◽  
Samuel C. L. Leung ◽  
Robert T. K. Ho

Object.The authors analyzed the factors involved in determining prolonged survival (≥ 24 months) in patients with brain metastases treated by gamma knife surgery (GKS).Methods.Between 1995 and 2003, a total of 116 patients underwent 167 GKS procedures for brain metastases. There was no special case selection. Smaller and larger lesions were treated with different protocols. The mean patient age was 56.9 years, the mean number of initial lesions was 3.15, and the mean lesion volume was 10.45 cm.3The mean follow-up time was 9.2 months.The median patient survival was 8.68 months. One-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-year actuarial survival rates were 31.8%, 19.8%, 14.6%, 7.7%, and 6.9%, respectively. Patient age, number of lesions at presentation, and lesion volume had no influence on patient survival. Twenty-three (19.8%) patients survived for 24 months or more. Certain factors were associated with increased survival time. These were stable primary disease (21 of 23 patients), a long latency between diagnosis of the primary tumor and the occurrence of brain metastases (mean 28.4 months, median 16 months), absence of third-organ involvement, and repeated local procedures. Ten patients underwent repeated GKS (mean 3.4 per patient). Seven patients required open surgery for local treatment failures (recurrence or radiation necrosis). Two patients had both. Fifteen patients underwent repeated procedures.Conclusions.Aggressive local therapy with GKS, repeated GKS, and GKS plus surgery can achieve increased survival in a subgroup of patients with stable primary disease, no third-organ involvement, and long primary-brain secondary intervals.


2013 ◽  
Vol 118 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chun-Po Yen ◽  
Julie A. Matsumoto ◽  
Max Wintermark ◽  
Lucia Schwyzer ◽  
Avery J. Evans ◽  
...  

Object The objective of this study was to evaluate the incidence, severity, clinical manifestations, and risk factors of radiation-induced imaging changes (RIICs) following Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) for cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Methods A total of 1426 GKS procedures performed for AVMs with imaging follow-up available were analyzed. Radiation-induced imaging changes were defined as newly developed increased T2 signal surrounding the treated AVM nidi. A grading system was developed to categorize the severity of RIICs. Grade I RIICs were mild imaging changes imposing no mass effect on the surrounding brain. Grade II RIICs were moderate changes causing effacement of the sulci or compression of the ventricles. Grade III RIICs were severe changes causing midline shift of the brain. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were applied to test factors potentially affecting the occurrence, severity, and associated symptoms of RIICs. Results A total of 482 nidi (33.8%) developed RIICs following GKS, with 281 classified as Grade I, 164 as Grade II, and 37 as Grade III. The median duration from GKS to the development of RIICs was 13 months (range 2–124 months). The imaging changes disappeared completely within 2–128 months (median 22 months) following the development of RIICs. The RIICs were symptomatic in 122 patients, yielding an overall incidence of symptomatic RIICs of 8.6%. Twenty-six patients (1.8%) with RIICs had permanent deficits. A negative history of prior surgery, no prior hemorrhage, large nidus, and a single draining vein were associated with a higher risk of RIICs. Conclusions Radiation-induced imaging changes are the most common adverse effects following GKS. Fortunately, few of the RIICs are symptomatic and most of the symptoms are reversible. Patients with a relatively healthy brain and nidi that are large, or with a single draining vein, are more likely to develop RIICs.


Neurosurgery ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 728-733 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manish S. Sharma ◽  
Douglas Kondziolka ◽  
Aftaab Khan ◽  
Hideyuki Kano ◽  
Ajay Niranjan ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE One of the key limitations of gamma knife surgery arises from the radiation safety tolerance limit of the brainstem. The authors conducted an analysis of patients with intra-axial brainstem lesions and documented the incidence of adverse radiation imaging effects (ARIE) and new neurological deficits after gamma knife surgery. METHODS Thirty-eight patients (39 lesions) with intra-axial brainstem astrocytomas or vascular malformations underwent gamma knife surgery during a 6-year interval. Brainstem exposure volume was calculated by subtracting the volume within the 12-Gy isodose line (12 Gray volume) from the prescription volume. ARIE was defined as a new parenchymal signal alteration on follow-up magnetic resonance imaging sequences. RESULTS The average prescription volume was 1.46 cm3, 12 Gy volume was 2.03 cm3, and brainstem exposure volume was 0.57 cm3. Seven (18.4%) patients developed ARIE. ARIE correlated only with the presence of new neurological deficits and age younger than 40 years. Three (7.9%) patients developed minor residual deficits without any ARIE. There was no mortality. CONCLUSION Exposure of the brainstem to more than 12 Gy at volumes as low as 0.1 cm3 can produce ARIE and new neurological deficits. The tolerance of the brainstem to radiosurgery is related to patient age, lesion volume, and pathology. Analysis of the exposed volume of brainstem tissue may be useful in radiosurgical planning for individual patients.


2020 ◽  
Vol 133 (6) ◽  
pp. 1646-1654 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shoji Yomo ◽  
Kyota Oda ◽  
Kazuhiro Oguchi

OBJECTIVETwo-session Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) has recently been demonstrated to be an effective and less-invasive alternative for large brain metastases not treatable by microsurgical resection. This raises the clinical question of whether the 2-session GKS strategy further improves treatment outcomes for patients with symptomatic midsize brain metastases (2–10 cm3) as compared to single-session GKS. The present study aimed to compare the local therapeutic effects and toxicities of single-session and 2-session GKS for treating these lesions.METHODSPatients with focal neurological deficits attributable to midsize brain metastases who underwent upfront GKS during the period from 2010 to 2018 were retrospectively identified from an institutional database. Patients for whom both post-GKS imaging studies and neurological evaluations from outpatient visits were available were eligible. Using propensity score–matching (PSM) analysis, unique matched pairs which had a similar likelihood of receiving 2-session GKS were generated. The main outcome measure was a composite of imaging and/or neurological worsening of the lesion of interest. Functional improvement and overall survival (OS) were also compared between the 2 treatment arms.RESULTSIn total, 219 cancer patients with 252 symptomatic midsize brain metastases were eligible. Of these 252 tumors, 176 and 76 were treated with single- and 2-session GKS, respectively. After PSM, 68 pairs of tumors were obtained. The Gray test showed that 2-session GKS achieved a longer local progression–free interval than single-session GKS (1-year local control rate: 84% vs 53%; HR 0.31, 95% CI 0.16–0.63, p = 0.001). Two-session GKS was also associated with greater functional improvement in KPS scores (mean 18.3 ± 14.6 vs 12.8 ± 14.1, p = 0.040). The median OS did not differ significantly between single- and 2-session GKS (15.6 vs 24.7 months; HR 0.69, 95% CI 0.44–1.10, p = 0.11).CONCLUSIONSTwo-session GKS achieved more durable local tumor control and greater functional improvement than single-session GKS for patients with symptomatic midsize brain metastases, although there was no OS advantage.


2010 ◽  
Vol 113 (Special_Supplement) ◽  
pp. 48-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toru Serizawa ◽  
Masaaki Yamamoto ◽  
Yasunori Sato ◽  
Yoshinori Higuchi ◽  
Osamu Nagano ◽  
...  

Object The authors retrospectively reviewed the results of Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) used as the sole treatment for brain metastases in patients who met the eligibility criteria for the ongoing JLGK0901 multi-institutional prospective trial. They also discuss the anticipated results of the JLGK0901 study. Methods Data from 1508 consecutive cases were analyzed. All of the patients were treated at the Gamma Knife House of Chiba Cardiovascular Center or the Mito Gamma House of Katsuta Hospital between 1998 and 2007 and met the following JLGK0901 inclusion criteria: 1) newly diagnosed brain metastases, 2) 1–10 brain lesions, 3) less than 10 cm3 volume of the largest tumor, 4) no more than 15 cm3 total tumor volume, 5) no findings of CSF dissemination, and 6) no impairment of activities of daily living (Karnofsky Performance Scale score < 70) due to extracranial disease. At the initial treatment, all visible lesions were irradiated with GKS without upfront whole-brain radiation therapy. Thereafter, gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging was performed every 2–3 months, and new distant lesions were appropriately retreated with GKS. Patients were divided into groups according to numbers of tumors: Group A, single lesions (565 cases); Group B, 2–4 tumors (577 cases); and Group C, 5–10 tumors (366 cases). The differences in overall survival (OS) were compared between groups. Results The median age of the patients was 66 years (range 19–96 years). There were 963 men and 545 women. The primary tumors were in the lung in 1114 patients, gastrointestinal tract in 179, breast in 105, urinary tract in 66, and other sites in 44. The overall mean survival time was 0.78 years (0.99 years for Group A, 0.68 years for Group B, and 0.62 years for Group C). The differences between Groups A and B (p < 0.0001) and between Groups B and C (p = 0.0312) were statistically significant. Multivariate analysis revealed significant prognostic factors for OS to be sex (poor prognostic factor: male, p < 0.0001), recursive partitioning analysis class (Class I vs Class II and Class II vs III, both p < 0.0001), primary site (lung vs breast, p = 0.0047), and number of tumors (Group A vs Group B, p < 0.0001). However, no statistically difference was detected between Groups B and C (p = 0.1027, hazard ratio 1.124, 95% CI 0.999–1.265). Conclusions The results of this retrospective analysis revealed an upper CI of 1.265 for the hazard ratio, which was lower than the 1.3 initially set by the JLGK0901 study. The JLGK0901 study is anticipated to show noninferiority of GKS as sole treatment for patients with 5–10 brain metastases compared with those with 2–4 in terms of OS.


2008 ◽  
Vol 109 (Supplement) ◽  
pp. 118-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toru Serizawa ◽  
Masaaki Yamamoto ◽  
Osamu Nagano ◽  
Yoshinori Higuchi ◽  
Shinji Matsuda ◽  
...  

Object The authors compared results of Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) for brain metastases obtained at 2 institutions in Japan. Methods They analyzed a consecutive series of 2390 patients with brain metastases who underwent GKS from 1998 through 2005 in 2 institutes (1181 patients in Chiba; 1209 in Mito). In the 2 facilities, 1 neurosurgeon each was responsible for diagnosis, patient selection, GKS procedures, and follow-up (T.S. in Chiba, M.Y. in Mito). Even if tumor numbers exceeded 4, all visible lesions were irradiated with a total skull integral dose (TSID) of ≤ 10–12 J. No prophylactic whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) was applied. If new distant lesions were detected, salvage GKS was appropriately performed. Results The distributions of patient and treatment factors did not differ between institutes. The most common primary tumors were lung cancer (1572 patients), followed by gastrointestinal tract (316), breast (211), kidney (113), and other cancers (159). The median survival periods were 7.7 months in Chiba and 7.0 months in Mito (p = 0.0635). The significant poor prognostic factors for overall survival were active extracranial disease status, male sex, and low initial Karnofsky Performance Scale score on multivariate analysis (all p < 0.0001). The neurological survival rates at 1 year were 86.6% in Chiba and 84.2% in Mito (p = 0.3310). Conclusions This 2-institute study demonstrated no significant institutional differences in any of the treatment result items. Gamma Knife surgery for brain metastases without prophylactic WBRT prevents neurological death and allows a patient to maintain good brain condition. However, there is 1 important patient selection criterion: regardless of how many tumors there are, all lesions can be irradiated with a TSID of ≤12 J.


2006 ◽  
Vol 105 (Supplement) ◽  
pp. 238-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albertus T. C. J. van Eck ◽  
Gerhard A. Horstmann

✓The occurrence of brain metastases from a malignant schwannoma of the penis is extremely rare. In patients with a single brain metastasis, microsurgical extirpation is the treatment of choice and verifies the diagnosis. In cases of multiple or recurrent metastases, radiosurgery is an effective and safe therapy option. Gamma Knife surgery was performed in a patient who had previously undergone tumor resection and who presented with recurrence of the lesion and three de novo brain metastases. This first report on brain metastasis from a malignant penile schwannoma illustrates the efficacy and safety of radiosurgical treatment for these tumors.


2005 ◽  
Vol 102 (Special_Supplement) ◽  
pp. 287-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Mindermann

Object. The authors evaluated prognostic factors for tumor recurrence and patient survival following gamma knife surgery (GKS) for brain metastasis. Methods. A retrospective review of 101 patient charts was undertaken for those patients treated with GKS for brain metastases from 1994 to 2001. Recurrence rates of brain metastasis following GKS depended on the duration of patient survival. Long-term survival was associated with a higher risk of tumor recurrence and shorter-term survival was associated with a lower risk. The duration of survival following GKS for brain metastases seems to be characteristic of the primary disease rather than the cerebral disease. Conclusions. Recurrence rates of brain metastasis following GKS are related to duration of survival, which is in turn mostly dependent on the nature and course of the primary tumor.


2005 ◽  
Vol 102 (Special_Supplement) ◽  
pp. 207-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roman Liscák ◽  
Vilibald Vladyka ◽  
Gabriela Simonová ◽  
Josef Vymazal ◽  
Josef Novotny

Object. The authors conducted a study to record more detailed information about the natural course and factors predictive of outcome following gamma knife surgery (GKS) for cavernous hemangiomas. Methods. One hundred twelve patients with brain cavernous hemangiomas underwent GKS between 1993 and 2000. The median prescription dose was 16 Gy. One hundred seven patients were followed for a median of 48 months (range 6–114 months). The rebleeding rate was 1.6%, which is not significantly different with that prior to radiosurgery (2%). An increase in volume was observed in 1.8% of cases and a decrease in 45%. Perilesional edema was detected in 27% of patients, which, together with the rebleeding, caused a transient morbidity rate of 20.5% and permanent morbidity rate of 4.5%. Before radiosurgery 39% of patients suffered from epilepsy and this improved in 45% of them. Two patients with brainstem cavernous hemangiomas died due to rebleeding. Rebleeding was more frequent in female middle-aged patients with a history of bleeding, a larger lesion volume, and a prescription dose below 13 Gy. Edema after GKS occurred more frequently in patients who had surgery, a larger lesion volume, and in those in whom the prescription dose was more than 13 Gy. Conclusions. Gamma knife surgery of cavernous hemangiomas can produce an acceptable rate of morbidity, which can be reduced by using a lower margin dose. Lesion regression was observed in many patients. Radiosurgery seems to remain a suitable treatment modality in carefully selected patients.


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