Türk Nöroşirürji Dergisi 2008 , Vol 18 , Num 3
Surgical Treatment of Brain Metastasis
Alparslan KIRIK, Tufan CANSEVER, Ersin ERDOĞAN
Gülhane Askeri Tıp Akademisi, Beyin ve Sinir Cerrahi Kliniği Ankara, Türkiye Brain metastases are seen in 1/3 of systemic cancer patients and are 10 times more common than primary brain tumors. Most of these tumors are sourced from the lung (50-60%), breast (15-20%), melanomas (5-10 %) and the gastrointestinal tract ( 4-6%). With the early diagnosis of primary tumors due to the evolution in diagnostic techniques, patients survive longer and metastases become more frequent. Patients die due to other systemic reasons with the local control of these lesions but they die due to neurological symptoms if the metastasis cannot be controlled. Therefore the priority of the treatment must be local control of the brain metastasis. Stereotactic radiosurgery is used more often as a treatment option for the metastasis as it is less invasive and more effective than other methods. With the evolution of surgical techniques, surgery is still the gold standard in the treatment of metastasis. Combined treatments (different combinations of surgery, radiosurgery and whole brain radiotherapy) have prolonged the median survival from 1-2 months to 6-12 months. However, the quality of life of the patients should always be kept in mind when choosing the treatment option for metastases. Anahtar Kelimeler : Brain, Metastasis, Surgery, Radiosurgery, Etiopathogenesis