Short Communication: Results of a Consensus Conference on Radiotherapy for Brain and Bone Metastases Within the...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Radiation Oncology
• Medical Physics

Background:

• Previous disparities in radiotherapy for metastases between Northern Germany and Southern Denmark necessitated a consensus.
• Identified differences highlighted the need for standardized treatment protocols.

Purpose of the Study:

• To harmonize radiotherapy regimens for bone and brain metastases across three participating centers.
• To establish consensus on optimal radiation doses and fractionation schedules.

Main Methods:

• A consensus conference was convened involving experts from three medical centers.
• Discussions focused on developing standardized radiotherapy protocols for bone and brain metastases based on prognostic factors.

Main Results:

• Consensus reached on regimens for painful and complicated bone metastases, stratified by patient prognosis (e.g., 1x8 Gy, 10x3 Gy, 5-6x4 Gy).
• Agreed-upon protocols for brain metastases included whole-brain irradiation (WBI) and fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT)/radiosurgery based on lesion number and prognosis.
• No consensus for 2-4 brain lesions in poor-prognosis patients; FSRT and WBI were debated.

Conclusions:

• The consensus conference successfully harmonized radiotherapy regimens for 32 out of 33 evaluated situations.
• Standardized protocols were achieved for diverse metastatic scenarios, improving treatment consistency across centers.