Kiyoshi Nakazaki1, Masakazu Nishigaki2. 1. Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Attack Center, Ota Memorial Hospital, 3-6-28 Okinogami, Fukuyama, Hiroshima, 720-0825, Japan. knakazaki@h7.dion.ne.jp. 2. Department of Human Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Symptomatic new lesions that appear after gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) for brain metastases have not been thoroughly described. METHODS: Among 238 patients who underwent a single session of GKRS without whole-brain radiotherapy or surgery for brain metastases between 2009 and 2014, a total of 165 (69.3%) patients underwent follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Their electrical health records were reviewed retrospectively. The median age was 68 years, and 62.4% patients were men. The median number of brain metastases was 2. The most frequent primary organ site was the lung (71.5%). Then, we evaluated predictors for the symptoms of new lesions. RESULTS: New lesions and leptomeningeal dissemination were observed in 101 (61.2%) and 23 (14.2%) patients, respectively. The median number of new lesions was 2; moreover, 20 of 101 patients (19.8%) with new lesions had tumours with the largest diameters of > 1 cm. Among 101 patients with new lesions, 13 were symptomatic (12.9%). Patients with larger new lesions (> 1 cm of the largest diameter) experienced symptoms more frequently (odds ratio 7.6, P < 0.01). Symptoms resolved after salvage GKRS in seven of 11 patients who abided by the recommended follow-up MRI schedule. No significant risk factors were found for symptoms of new lesions. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of symptomatic new lesions that appeared after GKRS was low, and more than half of the patients showed improvements in their symptoms after salvage GKRS. However, careful MRI-based assessments and salvage GKRS are critical for the quality of life.
BACKGROUND: Symptomatic new lesions that appear after gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) for brain metastases have not been thoroughly described. METHODS: Among 238 patients who underwent a single session of GKRS without whole-brain radiotherapy or surgery for brain metastases between 2009 and 2014, a total of 165 (69.3%) patients underwent follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Their electrical health records were reviewed retrospectively. The median age was 68 years, and 62.4% patients were men. The median number of brain metastases was 2. The most frequent primary organ site was the lung (71.5%). Then, we evaluated predictors for the symptoms of new lesions. RESULTS: New lesions and leptomeningeal dissemination were observed in 101 (61.2%) and 23 (14.2%) patients, respectively. The median number of new lesions was 2; moreover, 20 of 101 patients (19.8%) with new lesions had tumours with the largest diameters of > 1 cm. Among 101 patients with new lesions, 13 were symptomatic (12.9%). Patients with larger new lesions (> 1 cm of the largest diameter) experienced symptoms more frequently (odds ratio 7.6, P < 0.01). Symptoms resolved after salvage GKRS in seven of 11 patients who abided by the recommended follow-up MRI schedule. No significant risk factors were found for symptoms of new lesions. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of symptomatic new lesions that appeared after GKRS was low, and more than half of the patients showed improvements in their symptoms after salvage GKRS. However, careful MRI-based assessments and salvage GKRS are critical for the quality of life.
Entities:
Keywords:
Brain metastases; Gamma knife radiosurgery; Leptomeningeal dissemination; Salvage treatment; Symptoms of new lesions
Authors: Zjiwar H A Sadik; Patrick E J Hanssens; Jeroen B Verheul; Hilko Ardon; Suan Te Lie; Bram van der Pol; Guus N Beute; Ruth E M Fleischeuer; Sieger Leenstra Journal: Acta Neurochir (Wien) Date: 2020-04-14 Impact factor: 2.216