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The impact of brain MRI screening on stage IV NSCLC patients: A real world look at guidelines based care

  • 0Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Journal of the Neurological Sciences +

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February 8, 2025

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February 8, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Brain MRI screening in stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with good performance status is associated with improved survival. This screening aids in early detection and better outcomes for eligible NSCLC patients.

Area Of Science

  • Oncology
  • Radiology
  • Medical Imaging

Background

  • Brain metastases are common in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and significantly worsen prognosis.
  • Limited data exists on the clinical utility of routine brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) screening in NSCLC patients.
  • Advances in imaging and therapeutics have not fully mitigated the poor outcomes associated with brain metastases in NSCLC.

Purpose Of The Study

  • To evaluate the impact of brain MRI screening on survival in stage IV NSCLC patients.
  • To determine if brain MRI screening influences overall survival (OS) in NSCLC patients.
  • To characterize the utility of brain MRI screening in a cohort of newly-diagnosed stage IV NSCLC patients.

Main Methods

  • Retrospective analysis of 379 stage IV NSCLC patients diagnosed between 2019-2020, excluding those with neurological symptoms.
  • Patients were divided into two groups: those who underwent brain MRI screening within 12 weeks of diagnosis (n=170) and those who did not (n=209).
  • Clinical data including demographics, performance status (PS), brain metastases, tumor profiling, and treatment were analyzed.

Main Results

  • Median survival was significantly longer for patients who underwent brain MRI screening (24 months) compared to those who did not (18 months) (p=0.003).
  • Among patients with good performance status (ECOG 0-2), median OS was 25 months with screening versus 21 months without (p=0.025).
  • No statistically significant difference in OS was observed between groups for patients with low performance status (ECOG 3-4).

Conclusions

  • Brain MRI screening is supported for patients with stage IV NSCLC and good performance status.
  • Routine brain MRI screening in eligible NSCLC patients correlates with improved survival outcomes.
  • The findings suggest a benefit of proactive brain imaging in specific NSCLC patient subgroups.

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