Metastatic disease in the cerebellum. The LSU experience in 1981-1993.

We retrospectively determined the outcome of management of metastatic disease in the cerebellum (MDC) in 45 patients because MDC is considered to be more immediately life-threatening than metastases in other intracranial locations. Treatment consisted of tumor resection and radiotherapy (RR; n = 11) or of radiotherapy alone (RA; n = 34). Significant differences in the median survival (15 months for RR and 3 months for RA, p = 0.005) and in survival rates at 1 year (61 +/- 30% for RR and 9 +/- 10% for RA, p < 0.001) and at 2 years (15 +/- 22% for RR and 0% for RA, p < 0.05) were noted. This combined management program of surgery followed by radiotherapy for MDC produced a worthwhile gain in survival.