Role of stereotactic radiosurgery in the treatment of brain metastases

Am J Clin Oncol. 2005 Aug;28(4):403-10. doi: 10.1097/01.coc.0000158438.79665.bb.

Abstract

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is a highly conformal form of radiation therapy designed to deliver a high dose in a single treatment to the target volume while sparing adjacent normal tissues. Its role in the treatment of brain metastases continues to be defined, but the recently reported RTOG 95-08 trial demonstrated a survival benefit with the addition of SRS to whole-brain radiation therapy in select patients with a single brain metastasis, as well as a local control and palliative benefit in select patients with 1 to 3 brain metastases. The authors review the role of SRS in the treatment of brain metastases and discuss the use of SRS with or without whole-brain radiation therapy, optimal dose of SRS, SRS delivery methods, and selection of appropriate patients for SRS.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Brain Neoplasms / mortality
  • Brain Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Brain Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Brain Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Dementia / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Radiation Injuries / epidemiology
  • Radiosurgery*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Survival Analysis