The treatment of brain metastases
Gijtenbeek, J.M.M.; van Eck, A.T.C.J.; van der Maazen, R.W.M.; Koetsveld, A.C.; Punt, C.J.A.
Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde 146(37): 1724-1729
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 0028-2162 PMID: 12357872 Document Number: 551009
Patients with cancer have a 15 to 30% risk of developing symptomatic brain metastases. The prognosis is extremely poor then: the median survival period is less than one year. Treatment strategies aim to guarantee an optimal quality of life. Curative treatment can only be given in just a few unique cases. Besides the previous standard treatment of whole-brain radiotherapy, the efficacy of other treatment modalities as surgery, radiosurgery, and systemic chemotherapy has been demonstrated to have additional value for certain indications. Important factors that play a role in the decision to give a specific treatment are the age and performance status of the patient, the number of brain metastases and their location, the systemic tumour activity, and the radiosensitivity and chemosensitivity of the primary tumour. A multidisciplinary approach is necessary to guarantee an optimal treatment plan.