Stereotactic radiosurgery using the Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion unit in the management of patients with 10 or more brain metastases

2012 ◽  
Vol 117 (2) ◽  
pp. 237-245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramesh Grandhi ◽  
Douglas Kondziolka ◽  
David Panczykowski ◽  
Edward A. Monaco ◽  
Hideyuki Kano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Metastases ◽  
Stereotactic Radiosurgery ◽  
Gamma Knife ◽  
Median Survival ◽  
Primary Tumor ◽  
Systemic Disease ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Tumor Control ◽  
Karnofsky Performance Scale ◽  
Gamma Knife Perfexion

Object To better establish the role of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in treating patients with 10 or more intracranial metastases, the authors assessed clinical outcomes and identified prognostic factors associated with survival and tumor control in patients who underwent radiosurgery using the Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion (LGK PFX) unit. Methods The authors retrospectively reviewed data in all patients who had undergone LGK PFX surgery to treat 10 or more brain metastases in a single session at the University of Pittsburgh. Posttreatment imaging studies were used to assess tumor response, and patient records were reviewed for clinical follow-up data. All data were collected by a neurosurgeon who had not participated in patient care. Results Sixty-one patients with 10 or more brain metastases underwent SRS for the treatment of 806 tumors (mean 13.2 lesions). Seven patients (11.5%) had no previous therapy. Stereotactic radiosurgery was the sole prior treatment modality in 8 patients (13.1%), 22 (36.1%) underwent whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT) only, and 16 (26.2%) had prior SRS and WBRT. The total treated tumor volume ranged from 0.14 to 40.21 cm3, and the median radiation dose to the tumor margin was 16 Gy. The median survival following SRS for 10 or more brain metastases was 4 months, with improved survival in patients with fewer than 14 brain metastases, a nonmelanomatous primary tumor, controlled systemic disease, a better Karnofsky Performance Scale score, and a lower recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) class. Prior cerebral treatment did not influence survival. The median survival for a patient with fewer than 14 brain metastases, a nonmelanomatous primary tumor, and controlled systemic disease was 21.0 months. Sustained local tumor control was achieved in 81% of patients. Prior WBRT predicted the development of new adverse radiation effects. Conclusions Stereotactic radiosurgery safely and effectively treats intracranial disease with a high rate of local control in patients with 10 or more brain metastases. In patients with fewer metastases, a nonmelanomatous primary lesion, controlled systemic disease, and a low RPA class, SRS may be most valuable. In selected patients, it can be considered as first-line treatment.

Brain Metastases Treated with Radiosurgery Alone: An Alternative to Whole Brain Radiotherapy?

Neurosurgery ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 52 (6) ◽  
pp. 1318-1326 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toshinori Hasegawa ◽  
Douglas Kondziolka ◽  
John C. Flickinger ◽  
Anand Germanwala ◽  
L. Dade Lunsford
Keyword(s):  
Brain Metastases ◽  
Survival Time ◽  
Scale Score ◽  
Median Survival ◽  
Primary Tumor ◽  
Median Survival Time ◽  
Tumor Control ◽  
Karnofsky Performance Scale ◽  
Karnofsky Performance Scale Score ◽  
Performance Scale

Abstract OBJECTIVE Whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) provides benefit for patients with brain metastases but may result in neurological toxicity for patients with extended survival times. Stereotactic radiosurgery in combination with WBRT has become an important approach, but the value of WBRT has been questioned. As an alternative to WBRT, we managed patients with stereotactic radiosurgery alone, evaluated patients' outcomes, and assessed prognostic factors for survival and tumor control. METHODS One hundred seventy-two patients with brain metastases were managed with radiosurgery alone. One hundred twenty-one patients were evaluable with follow-up imaging after radiosurgery. The median patient age was 60.5 years (age range, 16–86 yr). The mean marginal tumor dose and volume were 18.5 Gy (range, 11–22 Gy) and 4.4 ml (range, 0.1–24.9 ml). Eighty percent of patients had solitary tumors. RESULTS The overall median survival time was 8 months. The median survival time in patients with no evidence of primary tumor disease or stable disease was 13 and 11 months. The local tumor control rate was 87%. At 2 years, the rate of local control, remote brain control, and total intracranial control were 75, 41, and 27%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, advanced primary tumor status (P = 0.0003), older age (P = 0.008), lower Karnofsky Performance Scale score (P = 0.01), and malignant melanoma (P = 0.005) were significant for poorer survival. The median survival time was 28 months for patients younger than 60 years of age, with Karnofsky Performance Scale score of at least 90, and whose primary tumor status showed either no evidence of disease or stable disease. Tumor volume (P = 0.02) alone was significant for local tumor control, whereas no factor affected remote or intracranial tumor control. Eleven patients developed complications, six of which were persistent. Nineteen (16.5%) of 116 patients in whom the cause of death was obtained died as a result of causes related to brain metastasis. CONCLUSION Brain metastases were controlled well with radiosurgery alone as initial therapy. We advocate that WBRT should not be part of the initial treatment protocol for selected patients with one or two tumors with good control of their primary cancer, better Karnofsky Performance Scale score, and younger age, all of which are predictors of longer survival.

The results of resection after stereotactic radiosurgery for brain metastases

2009 ◽  
Vol 111 (4) ◽  
pp. 825-831 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hideyuki Kano ◽  
Douglas Kondziolka ◽  
Oscar Zorro ◽  
Javier Lobato-Polo ◽  
John C. Flickinger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Metastasis ◽  
Brain Metastases ◽  
Stereotactic Radiosurgery ◽  
Surgical Navigation ◽  
Systemic Disease ◽  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
Tumor Control ◽  
Karnofsky Performance Scale ◽  
Surgical Removal ◽  
Local Progression

Object Radiosurgery for brain metastasis fails in some patients, who require further surgical care. In this paper the authors' goal was to evaluate prognostic factors that correlate with the survival of patients who require a resection of a brain metastasis after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). Methods During the last 14 years when surgical navigation systems were routinely available, the authors identified 58 patients who required resection for various brain metastases after SRS. The median patient age was 54 years. Prior adjuvant treatment included whole-brain radiation therapy alone (17 patients), chemotherapy alone (9 patients), both radiotherapy and chemotherapy (10 patients), and prior resection before SRS (8 patients). The median target volumes at the time of SRS and resection were 7.7 cm3 (range 0.5–24.9 cm3) and 15.5 cm3 (range 1.3–81.2 cm3), respectively. Results At a median follow-up of 7.6 months, 8 patients (14%) were living and 50 patients (86%) had died. The survival after surgical removal was 65, 30, and 16% at 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively (median survival after resection 7.7 months). The local tumor control rate after resection was 71, 62, and 43% at 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively. A univariate analysis revealed that patient preoperative recursive partitioning analysis classification, Karnofsky Performance Scale status, systemic disease status, and the interval between SRS and resection were factors associated with patient survival. The mortality and morbidity rates of resection were 1.7 and 6.9%, respectively. Conclusions In patients with symptomatic mass effect after radiosurgery, resection may be warranted. Patients who had delayed local progression after SRS (> 3 months) had the best outcomes after resection.

Outcome predictors of Gamma Knife surgery for melanoma brain metastases

2011 ◽  
Vol 114 (3) ◽  
pp. 769-779 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald N. Liew ◽  
Hideyuki Kano ◽  
Douglas Kondziolka ◽  
David Mathieu ◽  
Ajay Niranjan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Metastases ◽  
Stereotactic Radiosurgery ◽  
Radiation Effects ◽  
Systemic Disease ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Tumor Control ◽  
Karnofsky Performance Scale ◽  
Actuarial Survival ◽  
Intratumoral Hemorrhage ◽  
Extracranial Disease

Object To evaluate the role of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in the management of brain metastases from melanoma, the authors assessed clinical outcomes and prognostic factors for survival and tumor control. Methods The authors reviewed 333 consecutive patients with melanoma who underwent SRS for 1570 brain metastases from cutaneous and mucosal/acral melanoma. The patient population consisted of 109 female and 224 male patients with a median age of 53 years. Two hundred eleven patients (63%) had multiple metastases. One hundred eighteen patients (35%) underwent whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT). The target volume ranged from 0.1 cm3 to 37.2 cm3. The median marginal dose was 18 Gy. Results Actuarial survival rates were 70% at 3 months, 47% at 6 months, 25% at 12 months, and 10% at 24 months after radiosurgery. Factors associated with longer survival included controlled extracranial disease, better Karnofsky Performance Scale score, fewer brain metastases, no prior WBRT, no prior chemotherapy, administration of immunotherapy, and no intratumoral hemorrhage before radiosurgery. The median survival for patients with a solitary brain metastasis, controlled extracranial disease, and administration of immunotherapy after radiosurgery was 22 months. Sustained local tumor control was achieved in 73% of the patients. Sixty-four (25%) of 259 patients who had follow-up imaging after SRS had evidence of delayed intratumoral hemorrhage. Sixteen patients underwent a craniotomy due to intratumoral hemorrhage. Seventeen patients (6%) had asymptomatic and 21 patients (7%) had symptomatic radiation effects. Patients with ≤ 8 brain metastases, no prior WBRT, and the recursive partitioning analysis Class I had extended survivals (median 54.3 months). Conclusions Stereotactic radiosurgery is an especially valuable option for patients with controlled systemic disease even if they have multiple metastatic brain tumors.

Outcome Predictors of Gamma Knife Radiosurgery for Renal Cell Carcinoma Metastases

Neurosurgery ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 69 (6) ◽  
pp. 1232-1239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hideyuki Kano ◽  
Aditya Iyer ◽  
Douglas Kondziolka ◽  
Ajay Niranjan ◽  
John C. Flickinger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Renal Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Brain Metastases ◽  
Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Stereotactic Radiosurgery ◽  
Median Survival ◽  
Renal Cell ◽  
Karnofsky Performance Status ◽  
Performance Status ◽  
Gamma Knife Radiosurgery ◽  
Tumor Control

Abstract BACKGROUND Although whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT) has been a standard palliative management for brain metastases from renal cell carcinoma, its benefit has been elusive because of radiobiological resistance. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the role of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in the management of brain metastases from renal cell carcinoma. METHODS We reviewed records from 158 consecutive patients (men = 111, women = 47) who underwent SRS for 531 brain metastases from renal cell carcinoma. The median patient age was 61 years (range, 38-83 years), and the median number of tumors per patient was 1 (range, 1–10). Seventy-nine patients (50%) had solitary brain metastasis. Fifty-seven patients (36%) underwent prior WBRT. The median total tumor volume for each patient was 3.0 cm3 (range, 0.09-47 cm3). RESULTS The overall survival after SRS was 60%, 38%, and 19% at 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively, with a median survival of 8.2 months. Factors associated with longer survival included younger age, longer interval between primary diagnosis and brain metastases, lower recursive partitioning analysis class, higher Karnofsky performance status, smaller number of brain metastases, and no prior WBRT. Median survival for patients with > 2 brain metastases, higher Karnofsky performance status (> 90), and no prior WBRT was 12 months after SRS. Sustained local tumor control was achieved in 92% of patients. Symptomatic adverse radiation effects occurred in 7%. Overall, 70% of patients improved or remained neurologically stable. CONCLUSION Stereotactic radiosurgery is an especially valuable option for patients with higher Karnofsky performance status and smaller number of brain metastases from renal cell carcinoma.

Radiosurgery alone for 5 or more brain metastases: expert opinion survey

2010 ◽  
Vol 113 (Special_Supplement) ◽  
pp. 84-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan P. S. Knisely ◽  
Masaaki Yamamoto ◽  
Cary P. Gross ◽  
William A. Castrucci ◽  
Hidefumi Jokura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Metastases ◽  
Stereotactic Radiosurgery ◽  
San Francisco ◽  
Scale Score ◽  
Gamma Knife ◽  
Outcome Variable ◽  
Karnofsky Performance Scale ◽  
Clinical Factors ◽  
Karnofsky Performance Scale Score ◽  
Performance Scale

Object Oligometastatic brain metastases may be treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) alone, but no consensus exists as to when SRS alone would be appropriate. A survey was conducted at 2 radiosurgery meetings to determine which factors SRS practitioners emphasize in recommending SRS alone, and what physician characteristics are associated with recommending SRS alone for ≥ 5 metastases. Methods All physicians attending the 8th Biennial Congress and Exhibition of the International Stereotactic Radiosurgery Society in June 2007 and the 18th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Stereotactic Radiosurgery in July 2009 were asked to complete a questionnaire ranking 14 clinical factors on a 5-point Likert-type scale (ranging from 1 = not important to 5 = very important) to determine how much each factor might influence a decision to recommend SRS alone for brain metastases. Results were condensed into a single dichotomous outcome variable of “influential” (4–5) versus “not influential” (1–3). Respondents were also asked to complete the statement: “In general, a reasonable number of brain metastases treatable by SRS alone would be, at most, ___.” The characteristics of physicians willing to recommend SRS alone for ≥ 5 metastases were assessed. Chi-square was used for univariate analysis, and logistic regression for multivariate analysis. Results The final study sample included 95 Gamma Knife and LINAC-using respondents (54% Gamma Knife users) in San Francisco and 54 in Sendai (48% Gamma Knife users). More than 70% at each meeting had ≥ 5 years experience with SRS. Sixty-five percent in San Francisco and 83% in Sendai treated ≥ 30 cases annually with SRS. The highest number of metastases considered reasonable to treat with SRS alone in both surveys was 50. In San Francisco, the mean and median numbers of metastases considered reasonable to treat with SRS alone were 6.7 and 5, while in Sendai they were 11 and 10. In the San Francisco sample, the clinical factors identified to be most influential in decision making were Karnofsky Performance Scale score (78%), presence/absence of mass effect (76%), and systemic disease control (63%). In Sendai, the most influential factors were the size of the metastases (78%), the Karnofsky Performance Scale score (70%), and metastasis location (68%). In San Francisco, 55% of respondents considered treating ≥ 5 metastases and 22% considered treating ≥ 10 metastases “reasonable.” In Sendai, 83% of respondents considered treating ≥ 5 metastases and 57% considered treating ≥ 10 metastases “reasonable.” In both groups, private practitioners, neurosurgeons, and Gamma Knife users were statistically significantly more likely to treat ≥ 5 metastases with SRS alone. Conclusions Although there is no clear consensus for how many metastases are reasonable to treat with SRS alone, more than half of the radiosurgeons at 2 international meetings were willing to extend the use of SRS as an initial treatment for ≥ 5 brain metastases. Given the substantial variation in clinicians' approaches to SRS use, further research is required to identify patient characteristics associated with optimal SRS outcomes.

Thirty years' experience with Gamma Knife surgery for metastases to the brain

2009 ◽  
Vol 111 (3) ◽  
pp. 449-457 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bengt Karlsson ◽  
Patrick Hanssens ◽  
Robert Wolff ◽  
Michael Söderman ◽  
Christer Lindquist ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Survival Time ◽  
Gamma Knife ◽  
Median Survival ◽  
Primary Tumor ◽  
Median Survival Time ◽  
Gamma Knife Surgery ◽  
Tumor Control ◽  
Primary Disease ◽  
Multiple Metastases ◽  
The Brain

Object The aim of this study was to analyze factors influencing survival time and patterns of distant recurrences after Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) for metastases to the brain. Methods Information was available for 1855 of 1921 patients who underwent GKS for single or multiple cerebral metastases at 4 different institutions during different time periods between 1975 and 2007. The total number of Gamma Knife treatments administered was 2448, an average of 1.32 treatments per patient. The median survival time was analyzed, related to patient and treatment parameters, and compared with published data following conventional fractionated whole-brain irradiation. Results Twenty-five patients survived for longer than 10 years after GKS, and 23 are still alive. Age and primary tumor control were strongly related to survival time. Patients with single metastases had a longer survival than those with multiple metastases, but there was no difference in survival between patients with single and multiple metastases who had controlled primary disease. There were no significant differences in median survival time between patients with 2, 3–4, 5–8, or > 8 metastases. The 5-year survival rate was 6% for the whole patient population, and 9% for patients with controlled primary disease. New hematogenous spread was a more significant problem than micrometastases in patients with longer survival. Conclusions Patient age and primary tumor control are more important factors in predicting median survival time than number of metastases to the brain. Long-term survivors are more common than previously assumed.

scholarly journals Edema following Gamma Knife radiosurgery for parasagittal and parafalcine meningiomas

2015 ◽  
Vol 123 (5) ◽  
pp. 1287-1293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason P. Sheehan ◽  
Cheng-Chia Lee ◽  
Zhiyuan Xu ◽  
Colin J. Przybylowski ◽  
Patrick D. Melmer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stereotactic Radiosurgery ◽  
Gamma Knife ◽  
Gamma Knife Radiosurgery ◽  
Progression Free Survival ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Tumor Control ◽  
Peritumoral Edema ◽  
Who Grade ◽  
Increased Risk

OBJECT Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) has been shown to offer a high probability of tumor control for Grade I meningiomas. However, SRS can sometimes incite edema or exacerbate preexisting edema around the targeted meningioma. The current study evaluates the incidence, timing, and degree of edema around parasagittal or parafalcine meningiomas following SRS. METHODS A retrospective review was undertaken of a prospectively maintained database of patients treated with Gamma Knife radiosurgery at the University of Virginia Health System. All patients with WHO Grade I parafalcine or parasagittal meningiomas with at least 6 months of clinical follow-up were identified, resulting in 61 patients included in the study. The median radiographic follow-up was 28 months (range 6–158 months). Rates of new or worsening edema were quantitatively assessed using volumetric analysis; edema indices were computed as a function of time following radiosurgery. Statistical methods were used to identify favorable and unfavorable prognostic factors for new or worsening edema. RESULTS Progression-free survival at 2 and 5 years was 98% and 90%, respectively, according to Kaplan-Meier analysis. After SRS, new peritumoral edema occurred or preexisting edema worsened in 40% of treated meningiomas. The median time to onset of peak edema was 36 months post-SRS. Persistent and progressive edema was associated with 11 tumors, and resection was undertaken for these lesions. However, 20 patients showed initial edema progression followed by regression at a median of 18 months after radiosurgery (range 6–24 months). Initial tumor volume greater than 10 cm3, absence of prior resection, and higher margin dose were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with increased risk of new or progressive edema after SRS. CONCLUSIONS Stereotactic radiosurgery offers a high rate of tumor control in patients with parasagittal or parafalcine meningiomas. However, it can lead to worsening peritumoral edema in a minority of patients. Following radiosurgery, transient edema occurs earlier than persistent and progressive edema. Longitudinal follow-up of meningioma patients after SRS is required to detect and appropriately treat transient as well as progressive edema.

Clinical impact of magnetic resonance imaging on Gamma Knife surgery for brain metastases

2006 ◽  
Vol 105 (Supplement) ◽  
pp. 69-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julian R. Perks ◽  
Tianxiao Liu ◽  
William H. Hall ◽  
Allan Y. Chen
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Mr Imaging ◽  
Brain Metastases ◽  
Thin Section ◽  
Gamma Knife ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Systemic Disease ◽  
Gamma Knife Surgery ◽  
Karnofsky Performance Scale ◽  
Time Interval

ObjectStereotactic radiosurgery is beneficial for patients with a limited number of small brain metastases. Increased numbers of brain metastases, not infrequently at unreachable locations, are identified using thin-section magnetic resonance (MR) imaging on the day of Gamma Knife surgery (GKS). To improve patient selection and design better treatment strategies, a retrospective study was conducted to determine factors that may contribute to detecting additional brain metastases on the day of GKS.MethodsA total of 100 patients with brain metastases who underwent GKS between October 2003 and May 2006 at the University of California Davis Medical Center were included in the present study. Patients were categorized by age, sex, Karnofsky Performance Scale score, status of systemic disease, histological characteristics of the primary tumor, and whether they received previous whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT). The number of lesions identified by diagnostic MR imaging at referral, by thin-section double-contrast MR imaging on the day of GKS, and the actual lesions treated by GKS were recorded. The diagnostic MR images were categorized in terms of section thickness and time interval before GKS.Conclusions The characteristics of this patient population match well with the general GKS practice. Fifty-six had been treated with WBRT. On average, patients presented with 2.2 ± 1.7 lesions, a number based on their original diagnostic MR imaging, had 3.6 ± 3.4 lesions identified on the thin-section treatment MR imaging (p < 0.05), and underwent treatment of 3.1 ± 2.6 lesions on the day of GKS. Significantly, treatment was compromised in 21 patients, in whom not all additional lesions could be treated with the initial headframe placement. Analysis shows that a significantly greater number of lesions were detected using thin-section MR imaging on the day of GKS in patients who had undergone thick-section diagnostic MR imaging, did not receive WBRT, and had progressive systemic disease. To optimize treatment planning and minimize additional treatment, the number of metastases needs to be determined accurately before frame placement, ideally by performing thin-section MR imaging, as used on the day of GKS.

Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery in the treatment of brain metastases from breast cancer

2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (18_suppl) ◽  
pp. 10555-10555
Author(s):  
R. Gutt ◽  
S. Yovino ◽  
L. Chin ◽  
W. Regine ◽  
P. Amin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Brain Metastases ◽  
Stereotactic Radiosurgery ◽  
Gamma Knife ◽  
Karnofsky Performance Status ◽  
Systemic Disease ◽  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
Complication Rates ◽  
Gamma Knife Stereotactic Radiosurgery

10555 Background: Outcomes of gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery (GK-SRS) for patients with brain metastases specifically from breast cancer have not been well-defined. This study was undertaken to report the long-term experience with GK-SRS in this subset of patients. Methods: From 1995 to 2005, 75 patients with 162 brain lesions were treated with GK-SRS at the University of Maryland Medical Center. Complete follow-up data were available in 65 patients. Additional whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) was administered to 53 (81.5%) patients. The median WBRT dose was 36.75 Gy (30.0–45.0 Gy). The median number of lesions treated with GK-SRS was 2 (1–8 lesions). The median follow-up, age, and KPS were 7.2 months (0.4–75.7 months), 53.5 years (23–81 years), and 90 (40–100), respectively. The factors included in the univariate and multivariate analyses for overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) were age, Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS), tumor histology, estrogen receptor status, Her-2-neu status, number of intracranial lesions, and presence of systemic disease. Results: Median PFS and OS from GK-SRS were 5.3 months (0.4–33.2 months) and 8.1 months (0.4–75.7 months), respectively. The 6, 12, and 24 month actuarial PFS were 47.8%, 24.9%, and 9.6% respectively. The 6, 12, and 24 month actuarial OS were 60.7%, 39.1%, and 18.1% respectively. The tumor local control after WBRT and GK-SRS was 87.7%. Radiation necrosis was a complication in 10.8% of patients. Forty-seven (72.3%) patients had neurological symptoms prior to gamma knife treatment. Seven (14.9%) and 9 (19.1%) of these patients experienced symptom resolution and significant symptomatic improvement, respectively. Multivariate and univariate analysis did not reveal any of the prognostic factors in question to be significantly associated with OS nor PFS. Conclusions: This relatively large cohort of patients experienced poor survival outcomes despite aggressive therapy with WBRT and GK-SRS. However, GK-SRS can provide significant symptomatic relief, with acceptable complication rates. More research is required to improve the survival of breast cancer patients with intracranial metastases. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Stereotactic radiosurgery as primary and salvage treatment for brain metastases from breast cancer

2011 ◽  
Vol 114 (3) ◽  
pp. 792-800 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas Kondziolka ◽  
Hideyuki Kano ◽  
Gillian L. Harrison ◽  
Huai-che Yang ◽  
Donald N. Liew ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Brain Metastases ◽  
Stereotactic Radiosurgery ◽  
Radiation Effects ◽  
Tumor Volume ◽  
Progression Free Survival ◽  
Tumor Control ◽  
Karnofsky Performance Scale ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Total Tumor Volume

Object To evaluate the role of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in the management of brain metastases from breast cancer, the authors assessed clinical outcomes and prognostic factors for survival. Methods The records from 350 consecutive female patients who underwent SRS for 1535 brain metastases from breast cancer were reviewed. The median patient age was 54 years (range 19–84 years), and the median number of tumors per patient was 2 (range 1–18 lesions). One hundred seventeen patients (33%) had a single metastasis to the brain, and 233 patients (67%) had multiple brain metastases. The median tumor volume was 0.7 cm3 (range 0.01–48.9 cm3), and the median total tumor volume for each patient was 4.9 cm3 (range 0.09–74.1 cm3). Results Overall survival after SRS was 69%, 49%, and 26% at 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively, with a median survival of 11.2 months. Factors associated with a longer survival included controlled extracranial disease, a lower recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) class, a higher Karnofsky Performance Scale score, a smaller number of brain metastases, a smaller total tumor volume per patient, the presence of deep cerebral or brainstem metastases, and HER2/neu overexpression. Sustained local tumor control was achieved in 90% of the patients. Factors associated with longer progression-free survival included a better RPA class, fewer brain metastases, a smaller total tumor volume per patient, and a higher tumor margin dose. Symptomatic adverse radiation effects occurred in 6% of patients. Overall, the condition of 82% of patients improved or remained neurologically stable. Conclusions Stereotactic radiosurgery was safe and effective in patients with brain metastases from breast cancer and should be considered for initial treatment.

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