[Gamma knife treatment of brain metastatic tumors].

Twenty-one cases of brain metastases including 46 tumors treated with Gamma knife (GK) from Sep. 1995 to July 1996 were reported. Among them, 4 patients died within one month, 17 patients with 29 tumor masses were followed up by MRI or CT. The rate of local control was 93%. The total mortality was 19%. The GK treatment associated mortality was 4.7%. Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) stabilized in 3 cases, improved in 12 cases, regressed in 2 cases. One patients was operated due to the increase of the tumor volume. Four patients were treated with GK again due to the new lesions. The indications of GK treatment of the brain metastases, dose planning, and efficacy were discussed in brief.