Brain Metastases from Solid Tumors: an Institutional Study from South India

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Neurology
• Radiotherapy

Background:

• Brain metastases represent the most frequent intracranial neoplasms, with increasing incidence due to advanced imaging.
• Lung cancer is the most common primary tumor site leading to brain metastases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the clinical and demographic profile of patients diagnosed with brain metastases from primary solid tumors.
• To identify factors influencing survival in patients with brain metastases.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 130 consecutive patients with brain metastases.
• Data collected from January 2007 to August 2014 at a single institution.

Main Results:

• Female patients constituted 64.6%; the majority were in their sixth decade.
• Lung cancer was the primary tumor in 50.8% of cases, with a median time of 21.4 months to brain metastasis detection.
• Survival was better for solitary brain lesions and surgical excision compared to whole brain irradiation alone. Most patients were Recursive Partitioning Analysis class II.

Conclusions:

• The majority of patients had poor prognoses (Recursive Partitioning Analysis classes II or III).
• Many Indian patients were unsuitable for or could not afford advanced treatments like surgical excision or stereotactic radiosurgery.
• Tailored, individualized treatment approaches are crucial for patients with brain metastases.