[Brain metastasis from lung cancer--analysis of 53 patients]

From 1976 to 1985, 53 patients with brain metastasis from lung cancer were treated. The most common histologic type was adenocarcinoma (47.4%). All patients presented neurologic symptoms, and 29 were first admitted into the Department of Neurology. CT scan and angiography were most valuable for diagnosis. Metastasis occurred most frequently in frontal, temporal and parietal lobes. In this series, chemotherapy alone was ineffective but resection of the brain foci prolonged the survival in 90.9% of the patients. The authors believe that in order to facilitate radiotherapy or/and chemotherapy, resection of the brain foci should be given more consideration.