Radiotherapy of brain metastases: A 20-case report

Abstract

Introduction: Brain metastases represent the most common malignant brain tumors, affecting 20-40% of cancer patients. This article examines the efficacy of in toto encephalic radiotherapy in the treatment of these metastases. Historically, before the advent of radiotherapy, the prognosis for brain metastases was poor, with a median survival of one month. In toto brain radiotherapy has played a crucial role in improving survival and local control of lesions. The aim of this study was to analyze the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic characteristics of patients treated by this method. Material and Method: This prospective descriptive study included patients with brain metastases treated with total encephalic radiotherapy (TER) between January and April 2021. Inclusion criteria were related to diagnosis of brain metastases and exclusive use of total encephalic radiotherapy. Data were collected from medical records and analyzed using Microsoft Excel. Quantitative and qualitative data were processed to provide information on the characteristics of the study population. Results: Results show that the mean age of patients was 58.55 years, with a predominance of the 50-59 age group. Brain metastases were mainly from bronchopulmonary cancer (45%) and breast cancer (25%). In terms of symptoms, 90% of patients were symptomatic, while 10% were asymptomatic. The majority of patients (85%) had more than 3 brain metastases on MRI. As for treatment, 70% received radiotherapy at a dose of 30 Gy in 10 fractions, while other regimens were used for the remaining cases. Conclusion: Brain metastases remain a major problem in oncology, with significant consequences for patient survival and quality of life. Although stereotactic radiotherapy is gaining in popularity, this study highlights the persistent role of in toto encephalic radiotherapy in the treatment of certain brain metastases. Despite advances in other therapeutic modalities, EIT continues to play an important role in the management of these tumors.