Neurológia pre prax 5/2011

Current status and perspectives of treatment for brain metastases

Brain metastases are the most common intracranial neoplasms. The incidence of brain metastases is rising due to earlier detection, more effective imaging modalities and more effective treatment of systemic disease. The median survival of these patients is without treatment one month, corticosteroids can extend median survival to 2 months and radiotherapy to 3–6 months. The gold standard was WBI, but in the last 20 years are most often used stereotactic radiosurgery and stereotactic radiotherapy and neurosurgery for solitar lesions with improving median survival to 16 months. The goal of my work is to review important treatment modalities in patients with brain metastases with multidisciplinary approach.

Keywords: brain metastases, whole brain irradiation, stereotactic radiosurgery, stereotactic radiotherapy.