Radiotherapy for intracranial metastases

Abstract

Eighty-eight patients diagnosed as having intracranial metastatic tumor and treated in the Department of Radiation Oncology are evaluated from a radio-therapeutic point of view. Six of 31 patients (19.3%) with a primary lung carcinoma survived greater than 1 year following treatment of their intracranial metastases. Two of 21 patients with a primary breast carcinoma survived greater than 1 year following radiotherapy for intracranial metastases. Most patients who completed the intended course of radiotherapy did experience at least some relief of symptoms. The authors suggest whole brain radiotherapy (3000 rad in 10 fractions) plus a boost of 900 rad in 3 fractions to localized demonstrable intracranial sites of metastases for all patients with intracranial metastatic tumor who are symptomatic and likely to survive at least several months. The authors suggest craniotomy only in those patients presenting with evidence of a single localized intracranial lesion and without evidence of a primary tumor or other organ involvement by tumor. Likewise, craniotomy is suggested for patients with a primary tumor previously treated and apparently controlled and without evidence of other organ metastases.