Biomed Pap Med Fac Univ Palacky Olomouc Czech Repub. 2016, 160(4):484-490 | DOI: 10.5507/bp.2016.058

Treatment of brain metastases

Marcel Matzenauera, David Vranaa,b,c, Bohuslav Melichara,b
a Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, Czech Republic
b Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc and University Hospital Olomouc, Czech Republic
c Toxicogenomics Unit, National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic

Background: Brain metastases are a very common neurological sequela in cancer patients. The ability of current anti-cancer therapies to prolong overall survival is beleaguered by this development in the case of a number of different cancers. This review provides a general overview of relevant treatment modalities, highlights major decision strategies used in selecting the optimal treatment algorithm and summarizes important steps necessary before initiating therapy.

Methods: A PubMed database search was done to identify publications describing the treatment of brain metastases including surgery, radiotherapy and symptomatic care.

Results and Conclusion: Patient performance status and extent of disease play the most important roles in selecting between an aggressive or more conservative approach. As several other options are available, treatment decisions should be made in cooperation with multiple medical specialties and the involvement of multidisciplinary teams. In the future, brain metastases could become less of a treatment obstacle than they are today.

Keywords: Key words: brain, metastases, stereotactic, whole-brain, radiotherapy, radiosurgery, neurosurgery, chemotherapy

Received: July 4, 2016; Accepted: November 10, 2016; Prepublished online: November 23, 2016; Published: December 12, 2016  Show citation

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Matzenauer, M., Vrana, D., & Melichar, B. (2016). Treatment of brain metastases. Biomedical papers, 160(4), 484-490. doi: 10.5507/bp.2016.058
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