Irradiation of brain metastases

A series of 124 patients with intracranial metastases, treated by irradiation, has been reviewed, retrospectively and prospectively, and the results are reported. Worthwhile palliation was obtained in 79 (63%) of the total number of patients with functional improvement documented in 52 (41%). The uncorrected mean survival was 4.7 months. The addition of surgery to irradiation did not improve results significantly in this series. Therefore, surgical removal should be performed on special indications such as rapidly progressing increase in intracranial pressure unresponsive to steroids or shunt, or if the etiology of the intracranial lesion is uncertain.