scholarly journals Radiosurgery Techniques for Brain Metastases

Author(s):  
Erkan Topkan ◽  
Ahmet Kucuk ◽  
Sukran Senyurek ◽  
Duygu Sezen ◽  
Nulifer Kılıc Durankus ◽  
...  

As a notable cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality, brain metastases (BMs) represent the most prevalent intracranial tumors arising in up to 40% of all adult solid tumors during the course of treatment. Intracranial stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) or fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT) gained wide appreciation by the radiation oncology communities for the treatment of BM with regards to the grim prognosis of such patients after alternative therapies, including the whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT).  Additional concerns on the neurocognitive deterioration and comparably low tumor control rates offered by the conventional WBRT further quickened the implementation of SRS to the daily practice of radiation oncology clinics. However, the striking diversities among the treatment algorithms and the treatment planning systems of the gamma knife-, linear accelerator- (LINAC), tomotherapy-, robotic Cyberknife-, or the proton therapy-based SRS render the administration of SRS/FSRT challenging. Acknowledging these difficulties, the present review intended to offer a thorough outline of the main principals of the SRS/FSRT technique from the initial patient fixation to the final machine and dose delivery quality assurance treads.

2012 ◽  
Vol 117 (Special_Suppl) ◽  
pp. 49-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liang-Hua Ma ◽  
Guang Li ◽  
Hong-Wei Zhang ◽  
Zhi-Yu Wang ◽  
Jun Dang ◽  
...  

Object This study was undertaken to analyze outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed brain metastases from non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who were treated with hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (HSRT) with or without whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT). Methods One hundred seventy-one patients comprised the study population. Fifty-four patients received HSRT alone, and 117 patients received both HSRT and WBRT. The median survival time (MST) was determined using the Kaplan-Meier method. Recursive Partitioning Analysis (RPA) and Graded Prognostic Assessment (GPA) were also used to evaluate the results. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine significant prognostic factors for overall survival. Tumor control, radiation toxicity, and cause of death in the HSRT and HSRT+WBRT groups were evaluated. Results The MST for all patients was 13 months. According to the Kaplan-Meier method, the probability of survival at 1, 2, and 3 years was 51.2%, 21.7%, and 10.1%. The MSTs for RPA Classes I, II, and III were 19, 12, and 5 months, respectively; and the MSTs for GPA Scores 4, 3, 2, and 1 were 24, 14, 12, and 6 months, respectively. The MSTs in the HSRT+WBRT and HSRT groups were 13 and 9 months (p = 0.044), respectively, for all patients, 13 and 8 months (p = 0.031), respectively, for patients with multiple brain metastases, and 16 and 15 months (p = 0.261), respectively, for patients with a single brain metastasis. The multivariate analysis showed that HSRT+WBRT was a significant factor only for patients with multiple brain metastases (p = 0.010). The Kaplan-Meier–estimated tumor control rates at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months were 92.2%, 82.7%, 79.5%, and 68.3% in the HSRT+WBRT group and 73.5%, 58.4%, 51.0%, and 43.3% in the HSRT group, respectively, in all 165 patients (p = 0.001). The estimated tumor control rates at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months were 94.3%, 81.9%, 79.6%, and 76.7%, respectively, in the HSRT+WBRT group and 77.8%, 61.4%, 52.6%, and 48.2%, respectively, in the HSRT group in the 80 patients harboring a single metastasis (p = 0.009). The estimated tumor control rates at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months were 90.5%, 83.5%, 79.5%, and 60.9%, respectively, in the HSRT+WBRT group and 68.2%, 54.5%, 48.5%, and 36.4%, respectively, in the HSRT group in the 85 patients with multiple metastases (p = 0.010). The toxicity incidences of Grade 3 or worse were 6.0% (7 of 117 patients) in the HSRT+WBRT group and 1.9% (1 of 54 patients) in the HSRT group (p = 0.438). The differences in neurological death rates between the HSRT+WBRT group and the HSRT group were not statistically significant (34.4% vs 44.7%, p = 0.125, in all patients; 30.0% vs 52.0%, p = 0.114, in patients with a single metastasis; and 38.0% vs 36.4%, p = 0.397, in patients with multiple metastases). Conclusions The overall survival results in the present study were similar to those in other studies. Hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy provides an alternative method to traditional stereotactic radiosurgery. We suggest that WBRT should be combined with HSRT in patients with single or multiple newly diagnosed brain metastases from NSCLC.


Author(s):  
Johannes Kraft ◽  
Michael Mayinger ◽  
Jonas Willmann ◽  
Michelle Brown ◽  
Stephanie Tanadini-Lang ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose The treatment of brain metastases (BM) has changed considerably in recent years and in particular, the management of multiple BM is currently undergoing a paradigm shift and treatment may differ from current guidelines. This survey was designed to analyze the patterns of care in the management of multiple BM. Methods An online survey consisting of 36 questions was distributed to the members of the German Society for Radiation Oncology (DEGRO). Results In total, 193 physicians out of 111 institutions within the German Society for Radiation oncology responded to the survey. Prognostic scores for decision making were not used regularly. Whole brain radiotherapy approaches (WBRT) are the preferred treatment option for patients with multiple BM, although stereotactic radiotherapy treatments are chosen by one third depending on prognostic scores and overall number of BM. Routine hippocampal avoidance (HA) in WBRT is only used by a minority. In multiple BM of driver-mutated non-small cell lung cancer origin up to 30% favor sole TKI therapy as upfront treatment and would defer upfront radiotherapy. Conclusion In multiple BM WBRT without hippocampal avoidance is still the preferred treatment modality of choice regardless of GPA and mutational status, while SRT is only used in patients with good prognosis. Evidence for both, SRS and hippocampal avoidance radiotherapy, is growing albeit the debate over the appropriate treatment in multiple BM is yet not fully clarified. Further prospective assessment of BM management—ideally as randomized trials—is required to align evolving concepts with the proper evidence and to update current guidelines.


Author(s):  
Yukinori Okada ◽  
Mariko Kobayashi ◽  
Mio Shinozaki ◽  
Tatsuyuki Abe ◽  
Naoki Nakamura

Abstract Aim: To identify prognostic factors and investigate patient survival after whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) for initial brain metastases arising from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: Patients diagnosed with NSCLC between 1 January 2010 and 30 September 2019, and who received WBRT upon first developing a brain metastasis, were investigated. Overall survival was determined as related to age, sex, duration between initial examination and brain metastasis detection, stage at the first examination, presence of metastases outside the brain, blood analysis findings, brain metastasis symptoms, radiotherapy dose and completion, imaging findings, therapeutic course of chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy, histological type, and gene mutation status. Results: Thirty-one consecutive patients (20 men and 11 women) with a mean age of 63·8 years and median survival of 129 days were included. Multivariate analysis with stepwise testing was performed to investigate differences in survival according to gene mutation status, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, irradiation dose, WBRT completion and Stage status. Of these, a statistically significant difference in survival was observed in patients with gene mutation status (hazard ratio: 0·31, 95% CI: 0·11–0·86, p = 0·025), LDH levels <230 vs. ≥230 IU/L (hazard ratio: 4·08, 95% CI: 1·45–11·5, p < 0·01) received 30 Gy, 30 Gy/10 fractions to 35 Gy/14 fractions, and 37·5 Gy/15 fractions (hazard ratio: 0·26, 95% CI: 0·09–0·71, p < 0·01), and stage IV versus non-stage IV (hazard ratio: 0·13, 95 CI:0·02–0·64, p < 0·01) Findings: Gene mutation, LDH, radiation dose and Stage are prognostic factors for patients with initial brain metastases who are treated with WBRT.


Author(s):  
Dianne Hartgerink ◽  
Anna Bruynzeel ◽  
Danielle Eekers ◽  
Ans Swinnen ◽  
Coen Hurkmans ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The clinical value of whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) for brain metastases (BM) is a matter of debate due to the significant side effects involved. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is an attractive alternative treatment option that may avoid these side effects and improve local tumor control. We initiated a randomized trial (NCT02353000) to investigate whether quality of life is better preserved after SRS compared with WBRT in patients with multiple brain metastases. Methods Patients with 4 to 10 BM were randomized between the standard arm WBRT (total dose 20 Gy in 5 fractions) or SRS (single fraction or 3 fractions). The primary endpoint was the difference in quality of life (QOL) at three months post-treatment. Results The study was prematurely closed due to poor accrual. A total of 29 patients (13%) were randomized, of which 15 patients have been treated with SRS and 14 patients with WBRT. The median number of lesions were 6 (range, 4-9) and the median total treatment volume was 13.0 cc 3 (range, 1.8-25.9 cc 3). QOL at three months decreased in the SRS group by 0.1 (SD=0.2), compared to 0.2 (SD=0.2) in the WBRT group (p=0.23). The actuarial one-year survival rates were 57% (SRS) and 31% (WBRT) (p=0.52). The actuarial one-year brain salvage-free survival rates were 50% (SRS) and 78% (WBRT) (p=0.22). Conclusion In patients with 4 to 10 BM, SRS alone resulted in one-year survival for 57% of patients while maintaining quality of life. Due to the premature closure of the trial, no statistically significant differences could be determined.


CNS Oncology ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
pp. 401-406 ◽  
Author(s):  
Macarena de la Fuente ◽  
Kathryn Beal ◽  
Richard Carvajal ◽  
Thomas J Kaley

2000 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven D. Chang ◽  
John R. Adler

The management of patients with multiple brain metastases remains a difficult challenge for neurosurgeons. This patient population has a poor prognosis when compared with those harboring a solitary brain metastasis, and historically treatment has generally consisted of administering whole-brain radiotherapy once the diagnosis of multiple brain metastases is made. Resection can be useful in a subset of patients with multiple metastases in whom one or two of the lesions are symptomatic, as this may provide rapid reduction of mass effect and edema. Furthermore, the authors of recent studies have shown that stereotactic radiosurgery can be used in certain patients with multiple brain metastases as part of the treatment regimen. In this review the authors outline the treatment options and indications as well as a management strategy for the treatment of patients with multiple brain metastases.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document