TREATMENT RESULTS OF PRIMARY IRRADIATION AND SURGERY WITH POSTIRRADIATION IN CASE OF CEREBRAL METASTASES

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 160  (5) , 309-317
Abstract
Of 61 patients with cerebral metastases, 32 were treated surgically and postirradiated and 29 received only irradiated. The irradiations were given for curative purposes. The survival times calculated with the method of Kaplan-Mayer were 10 mo. after surgery and irradiation 5 mo. after irradiations alone. In case of metastases of the mammary carcinoma, surgery with irradiation seems to be an especially effective method, as is suggested by the median survival time of 35 mo. and the total absence of local recurrences. In most of the other cases, too, the prolonged survival time was accompanied by a good quality of life which lasted for a considerable period of time. Younger patients had a longer survival time than older patients. The results of a high-dosed therapy with several daily fractions, namely 60 Gy [gray] within 17 days or 1825 ret NSD, were not (yet) better than those of conventional fractionation and dosage with 50-60 Gy in 5-6 wk of 1572-1768 ret NSD. However, the value of this method was the same, its advantage lying in the shorter treatment time. Psychosyndrome development was noticed only in patients over 60 yr, especially those receiving total brain irradiation. (The calculation of the survival times includes all cases, even patients who died during or shortly after radiotherapy).