Role of radiosurgery in the management of central nervous system metastases

Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 1999:43 Suppl:S11-4. doi: 10.1007/s002800051092.

Abstract

Radiosurgery is being used more routinely to treat patients with inoperable, recurrent, or multiple brain metastases from systemic cancer. Results in > 2000 treated patients have been published during the past 8 years. These results indicate that permanent local control can be obtained in > 80% of treated lesions with complications in < 10% of patients. Success is independent of the histology, ie, melanoma vs adenocarcinoma, of the treated lesion or number of lesions treated. The long-term results of radiosurgery compare favorably with those seen following surgical resection. The cost-effectiveness of radiosurgery compared to surgical resection favors an expanded role for this technology in the treatment of selected patients with brain metastases.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Brain Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Brain Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Radiosurgery* / adverse effects