Gamma knife surgery for brain metastases from lung cancer

2005 ◽  
Vol 102 (Special_Supplement) ◽  
pp. 128-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hung-Chuan Pan ◽  
Jason Sheehan ◽  
Matei Stroila ◽  
Melita Steiner ◽  
Ladislau Steiner

Object. The authors conducted a study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of gamma knife surgery (GKS) for the treatment of brain metastases from lung cancer. Methods. Between February 1993 and May 2003 191 patients underwent treatment for 424 brain metastases from non—small (171 cases) and small cell lung carcinoma (20 cases). Imaging and clinical status were monitored every 3 months following the treatment. Kaplan-Meier survival curves, Cox proportional hazards regression for risk factor analysis, and nonparametric methods for evaluating tumor response were used. There was no difference in median survival following combined whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT) and gamma knife surgery (14 months) and GKS alone (15 months). There was also no difference between the median survival rates for either tumor type. In the multivariate analysis, age less than 65 years, Karnofsky Performance Scale score greater than 70, normal neurological status, multiple GKS treatments, and pre-GKS craniotomy were related to longer survival. Tumor control rates varied according to the volume of the metastases and were as follows: 84.4% (< 0.5 cm3), 94% (0.5–2 cm3), 89.1% (2–4 cm3), 93.4% (4–8 cm3), 85.7% (8–14 cm3), and 87.5% (> 14 cm3). Four lesions required post-GKS craniotomy due to swelling or rapid tumor progression. The rate of tumor shrinkage was higher when a volume was 2 cm3, lower in cystic lesions, lower in tumors with previous WBRT, and lower for margin doses less than 14 Gy. Conclusions. The risk—benefit ratio of GKS in this series was satisfactory. There was no difference in response rates of the two tumor types, and WBRT did not improve the duration of survival.

2002 ◽  
Vol 97 ◽  
pp. 489-493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Hernandez ◽  
Lucia Zamorano ◽  
Andrew Sloan ◽  
James Fontanesi ◽  
Simon Lo ◽  
...  

Object. The purpose of this study was to clarify the effectiveness of gamma knife radiosurgery (GKS) in achieving a partial or complete remission of so-called radioresistant metastases from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and to propose guidelines for optimal treatment Methods. During a 5-year period, 29 patients (19 male and 10 female) with 92 brain metastases from RCC underwent GKS. The median tumor volume was 4.7 cm3 (range 0.5–14.5 cm3). Fourteen patients (48%) also underwent whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) before GKS, and two patients (6.8%) after GKS. The mean GKS dose delivered to the 50% isodose at the tumor margin was 16.8 Gy (range 13–30 Gy). All cases were categorized according to the Recursive Partitioning Analysis (RPA) classification for brain metastases. Univariate analysis was performed to determine significant prognostic factors and survival. The overall median survival was 7 months after GKS treatment. Age, sex, Karnofsky Performance Scale score, and controlled primary disease were not predictors of survival. Combined WBRT/GKS resulted in median survival of 18, 8.5, and 5.3 months for RPA Classes I, II, and III, respectively, compared with the median survival 7.1, 4.2, and 2.3 months for patients treated with WBRT alone. Conclusions. These results suggest that WBRT combined with GKS may improve survival in patients with brain metastases from RCC. Furthermore, this improvement in survival was seen in all RPA classes.


2002 ◽  
Vol 97 ◽  
pp. 484-488 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toru Serizawa ◽  
Junichi Ono ◽  
Toshihiko Iichi ◽  
Shinji Matsuda ◽  
Makoto Sato ◽  
...  

Object. The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the effectiveness of gamma knife radiosurgery (GKS) for the treatment of metastatic brain tumors from lung cancer, with particular reference to small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) compared with non-SCLC (NSCLC). Methods. Two hundred forty-five consecutive patients meeting the following five criteria were evaluated in this study: 1) no prior brain tumor treatment; 2) 25 or fewer lesions; 3) a maximum of three tumors with a diameter of 20 mm or larger; 4) no surgically inaccessible tumor 30 mm or greater in diameter; and 5) more than 3 months of life expectancy. According to the same treatment protocol, large tumors (≥ 30 mm) were surgically removed and the other small lesions (< 30 mm) were treated with GKS. New lesions were treated with repeated GKS. Chemotherapy was administered, according to the primary physician's protocol, as aggressively as possible. Progression-free, overall, neurological, qualitative, and new lesion—free survival were calculated with the Kaplan—Meier method and were compared in the SCLC and NSCLC groups by using the log-rank test. The poor prognostic factors for each type of survival were also analyzed with the Cox proportional hazard model. Conclusions. Tumor control rate at 1 year was 94.5% in the SCLC group and 98% in the NSCLC group. The median survival time was 9.1 months in the SCLC group and 8.6 months in the NSCLC group. The 1-year survival rates in the SCLC group were 86.5% for neurological survival and 68.9% for qualitative survival; those in the NSCLC group were 87.9% for neurological and 78.9% for qualitative survival. The estimated median interval to emergence of a new lesion was 6.9 months in the SCLC group and 9.8 months in the NSCLC group. There was no significant difference between the two groups for any type of survival; this finding was verified by multivariate analysis. The results of this study suggest that GKS appears to be as effective in treating brain metastases from SCLC as for those from NSCLC.


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. 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 (Special_Supplement) ◽  
pp. 247-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Sheehan ◽  
Douglas Kondziolka ◽  
John Flickinger ◽  
L. Dade Lunsford

Object. Lung carcinoma is the leading cause of death from cancer. More than 50% of those with small cell lung cancer develop a brain metastasis. Corticosteroid agents, radiotherapy, and resection have been the mainstays of treatment. Nonetheless, median survival for patients with small cell lung carcinoma metastasis is approximately 4 to 5 months after cranial irradiation. In this study the authors examine the efficacy of gamma knife surgery for treating recurrent small cell lung carcinoma metastases to the brain following tumor growth in patients who have previously undergone radiation therapy, and they evaluate factors affecting survival. Methods. A retrospective review of 27 patients (47 recurrent small cell lung cancer brain metastases) undergoing radiosurgery was performed. Clinical and radiographic data obtained during a 14-year treatment period were collected. Multivariate analysis was utilized to determine significant prognostic factors influencing survival. The overall median survival was 18 months after the diagnosis of brain metastases. In multivariate analysis, factors significantly affecting survival included: 1) tumor volume (p = 0.0042); 2) preoperative Karnofsky Performance Scale score (p = 0.0035); and 3) time between initial lung cancer diagnosis and development of brain metastasis (p = 0.0127). Postradiosurgical imaging of the brain metastases revealed that 62% decreased, 19% remained stable, and 19% eventually increased in size. One patient later underwent a craniotomy and tumor resection for a tumor refractory to radiosurgery and radiation therapy. In three patients new brain metastases were demonstrating on follow-up imaging. Conclusions. Stereotactic radiosurgery for recurrent small cell lung carcinoma metastases provided effective local tumor control in the majority of patients. Early detection of brain metastases, aggressive treatment of systemic disease, and a therapeutic strategy including radiosurgery can extend survival.


2005 ◽  
Vol 102 (Special_Supplement) ◽  
pp. 75-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Massimo Gerosa ◽  
Antonio Nicolato ◽  
Roberto Foroni ◽  
Laura Tomazzoli ◽  
Albino Bricolo

Object. The authors conducted a study to evaluate the long-term outcomes and prognostic factors for survival in a large series of patients treated by gamma knife surgery (GKS) for non—small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) brain metastases. Methods. The study is based on the retrospective analysis of clinical and radiological records obtained during a 10-year period (1993–2003), concerning 836 lesions in 504 patients. The lesions were primary in 86% and recurrent 14% of the cases; they were solitary in 31%, single in 29%, and multiple in 40%. The mean follow-up period was 16 months (range 4–113 months). The most common histological types were adenocarcinoma (51%) and squamous cell carcinoma (27%). Dose planning parameters were as follows: mean target volume 6.2 cm3 (range 0.06–22.5 cm3); mean prescription dose 21.4 Gy (range 15.5–28 Gy); and mean number of isocenters 6.7 (range one–18). Progression-free and actuarial survival curves were calculated using the Kaplan—Meier method. The main factors affecting survival were determined by unimultivariate analysis (log-rank test and Cox proportional hazard models). Analysis of long-term outcomes seemed to confirm that GKS is a primary therapeutic option in these patients. The 1-year local tumor control rate was 94%. The overall median survival was 14.5 months, with extremely rewarding quality of life indices. The recursive partitioning analysis classification was the dominant prognostic factor. Conclusions. Gamma knife surgery is a useful treatment for brain metastases from NSCLC.


2002 ◽  
Vol 97 ◽  
pp. 515-524 ◽  
Author(s):  
Massimo Gerosa ◽  
Antonio Nicolato ◽  
Roberto Foroni ◽  
Bruno Zanotti ◽  
Laura Tomazzoli ◽  
...  

Object. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the role of gamma knife radiosurgery (GKS) as a primary treatment for brain metastases by evaluating the results in particularly difficult cases such as oncotypes—which are unresponsive to radiation—cystic lesions, and highly critical locations such as the brainstem. Methods. Treatment of 804 patients with 1307 solitary (29%), single (26%), and multiple (45%) brain metastases was evaluated. Treatment planning parameters were as follows: mean tumor volume 4.8 cm3 (range 0.01–21.5 cm3), mean prescription dose 20.6 Gy (range 12–29 Gy), and mean number of isocenters 6.5 (one–19). In unresponsive oncotypes such as melanoma and renal cell carcinoma, the mean target dosages were higher. Cystic metastatic lesions were initially stereotactically evacuated and then GKS was performed. Patients with brainstem metastases were treated with lower doses. Conventional radiotherapy was used in only a minority (14%) of selected cases. The overall median patient survival time was 13.5 months, and the 1-year actuarial local progression-free survival rate was 94%, with a mean palliation index and functional independence index of 53.8 and 52.5 weeks, respectively. The local tumor control rate was 93%, with a mean follow-up period of 14 months. In the overall series, and especially in the unresponsive oncotypes, systemic disease progression was the main limiting factor with regard to patient life expectancy. Conclusions. Gamma knife radiosurgery seems to be the primary treatment option for patients harboring small-tomedium size (≤ 20-cm3) brain metastases with reasonable life expectancy and no impending intracranial hypertension. Results are better than with those obtained using whole-brain radiotherapy and comparable to the best selected surgery—radiation series, even in oncotypes unresponsive to therapeutic radiation, cystic tumors, and tumors located in the brain stem.


2006 ◽  
Vol 105 (Supplement) ◽  
pp. 91-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guenther Christian Feigl ◽  
Gerhard A. Horstmann

ObjectBrain metastases are diagnosed in 20 to 40% of all cancer patients and are associated with a considerable drop in life expectancy and often also in quality of life for these patients. Several treatment options are available including surgery, chemotherapy, whole-brain radiotherapy, stereotactic radiotherapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, and Gamma Knife surgery (GKS). However, management of brain metastases still presents a challenge and there is no general consensus on the best treatment strategy. The aim of the authors' study was to further evaluate the efficacy of GKS in the treatment of brain metastases and to evaluate the predictive value of volumetric tumor follow-up measurement.MethodsConsecutive patients with controlled systemic cancer and variable numbers of brain metastases were included in this prospective study. Patients with severe symptoms of brain compression underwent surgery before GKS. Each follow-up examination included a thorough neurological examination and a neuroradiological quantitative volumetric tumor analysis.A total of 300 consecutive patients (mean age 58 years) with 703 brain metastases were treated between December 1998 and October 2005. The mean total tumor volume (TTV) was 2.1 cm3. The overall local tumor control rate was 84.5%. In 79% of all treated metastases a mean TTV reduction of 84.7% was achieved using a mean prescription dose of 21.8 Gy. Only few, mostly mild, side effects were observed during the mean follow-up period of 12.7 months. The overall mean progression-free survival period was 9.4 months. There was a statistically significant difference in survival of patients with one compared with multiple metastases, regardless of the histological type and preceding treatment.Conclusions Gamma Knife surgery is a safe and effective treatment for patients with brain metastases regardless of the history of treatment and histological tumor type. It achieves excellent tumor control, significant TTV reduction without causing severe side effects, and accordingly, preserves quality of live. Volume changes after GKS did not serve as a predictor for treatment outcome and survival.


2005 ◽  
Vol 102 (Special_Supplement) ◽  
pp. 97-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Sook Park ◽  
Jong Hee Chang ◽  
Jin Woo Chang ◽  
Sang Sup Chung ◽  
Yong Gou Park

Object. The authors describe their experience in treating patients with hemangioblastoma, especially multiple lesions, with gamma knife surgery (GKS). Methods.Nine patients with 84 hemangioblastomas underwent GKS between July 1992 and May 2003. Three patients harbored a single lesion and six patients had multiple lesions. Of the six patients with multifocal tumors, a diagnosis of von Hippel—Lindau disease had been established in five. In the patients with multiple lesions, the mean radiation dose delivered to the tumor margin was 16.6 Gy (range 12.8–29.75 Gy). The mean margin isodose was 60% (range 40–95%). Three of the 84 lesions failed to be controlled after a mean follow-up period of 4.3 years (range 8.6–141 months). One patient who had undergone two GKS treatments suffered delayed radiation-induced complications, and posterior fossa decompression and ventriculoperitoneal shunt insertion were required. Conclusions. To achieve tumor control and avoid morbidity, the surgeon should keep in mind minimizing field overlapping by using a small-diameter collimator or applying a steep dose gradient, and by accurate dose prescription.


2005 ◽  
Vol 102 ◽  
pp. 189-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guenther C. Feigl ◽  
Otto Bundschuh ◽  
Alireza Gharabaghi ◽  
Madjid Samii ◽  
Gerhard A. Horstmann

Object.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the volume-reducing effects of gamma knife surgery (GKS) of meningiomas with and without previous surgical treatment.Methods.A group of 127 patients with a mean age of 57.1 years (range 9–81 years) with 142 meningiomas (128 World Health Organization Grade I and 14 Grade II) were included in this study. The management strategy reduces tumor volume with surgery when necessary (81 patients). Stereotactic GKS with a Gamma Knife model C was performed in all tumors of suitable size. Magnetic resonance imaging follow-up examinations with volumetric tumor analysis was performed 6 months after treatment and annually thereafter.The mean tumor volume was 5.9 cm3(range < 5 to > 40 cm3). The mean follow-up time after GKS was 29.3 months (range 11–61 months). The mean prescription dose was 13.8 Gy (range 10–18 Gy). A reduction in volume occurred in 117 (82.4%) of all tumors, and in 20 tumors (14.1%) growth ceased. The overall tumor control rate of 96.4%. The mean volume reduction achieved with GKS was more than 46.1%. Only five tumors (3.5%) showed a volume increase.Conclusions.Gamma knife surgery was effective in reducing meningioma volume at short-term follow up. Further studies are needed to examine the development of these findings over a longer period.


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