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PubMed · 12057152

Brain metastases.

P Y Wen·J S Loeffler
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Abstract

Brain metastases are an increasingly common complication in patients with systemic cancer. The optimal treatment for each patient depends on careful evaluation of several factors: the location, size, and number of brain metastases; the patient's age, general condition, and neurologic status; and the extent of systemic cancer to name a few. For patients with a single brain metastasis and limited systemic disease, the standard treatment is surgical resection followed by whole brain radiation therapy. In patients with a small, single metastasis, stereotactic radiosurgery is probably comparable to surgery. Patients with several metastases (up to three) and controlled systemic disease can be treated with whole-brain radiation and stereotactic radiosurgery. Patients with multiple metastases (more than three) are generally treated with whole-brain radiation alone. Radiosurgery is effective in treating patients with a limited number of recurrent brain metastases and stable systemic diseases. Surgery may have a role in patients with a large symptomatic recurrent lesion producing mass effect. Reirradiation and chemotherapy may have a limited role in patients with multiple recurrent metastases.

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Adrenal Cortex HormonesAnticonvulsantsAntineoplastic AgentsBrain NeoplasmsCombined Modality TherapyCranial IrradiationHumansNeoplasmsPrognosisRadiosurgerySurvival RateTreatment OutcomeJournal ArticleReview

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BibTeXRIS

P Y Wen, J S Loeffler. 2000. Brain metastases.. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11864-000-0072-3

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