Response to Preoperative Dexamethasone Predicts Postoperative Neurological Improvement of Focal Neurological Deficits...

Steroids are used ubiquitously in the preoperative management of patients with brain tumor. The rate of improvement in focal deficits with steroids and the prognostic value of such a response are not known.

To determine the rate at which focal neurological deficits respond to preoperative corticosteroids in patients with brain metastases and whether such an improvement could predict long-term recovery of neurological function after surgery.

Patients with brain metastases and related deficits in language, visual field, or motor domains who received corticosteroids before surgery were identified. Characteristics between steroid responders and nonresponders were compared.

Ninety six patients demonstrated a visual field (13 patients), language (19), or motor (64) deficit and received dexamethasone in the week before surgery (average cumulative dose 43 mg; average duration 2.7 days). 38.5% of patients' deficits improved with steroids before surgery, while 82.3% of patients improved by follow-up. Motor deficits were more likely to improve both preoperatively ( P = .014) and postoperatively ( P = .010). All 37 responders remained improved at follow-up whereas 42 of 59 (71%) of nonresponders ultimately improved ( P < .001). All other clinical characteristics, including dose and duration, were similar between groups.

A response to steroids before surgery is highly predictive of long-term improvement postoperatively in brain metastasis patients with focal neurological deficits. Lack of a response portends a somewhat less favorable prognosis. Duration and intensity of therapy do not seem to affect the likelihood of response.