Treatment
Approximately 25 % of patients with cancer will develop metastatic tumors of the central nervous system. In the last decade the importance of aggressive management of intracranial brain metastases has been recognized, specifically the important role of radiosurgery. Gamma Knife radiosurgery for appropriate brain metastases usually results in durable control of the treated tumor and low risk. A recent national report suggests that Gamma Knife may be more effective and have a lower rate of complications than LINAC radiosurgery for metastatic tumors of the brain.
Gamma Knife radiosurgery may be used in recurrent disease after whole brain radiation therapy as well as an adjunctive or definitive therapy of newly diagnosed disease with one or a few initial lesions. Unlike conventional radiation therapy, the response to Gamma Knife radiosurgery appears to be as good for so-called “radioresistant” tumors (such as renal cell carcinoma and melanoma) as it is for radiosensitive tumors. Also, the likelihood of cognitive deficits should be lower with Gamma Knife radiosurgery than for whole brain radiation therapy.
To schedule an evaluation with a Burkhardt Brain Tumor Center specialist, please call our Appointment Center at 216.636.5860 or toll-free at 866.588.2264.