Onkologie. 2021:15(5):238-242 | DOI: 10.36290/xon.2021.045

Surgical treatment of brain metastases

Václav Vybíhal^{1, 2}, Pavel Fadrus^{1, 2}, Martin Smrčka^{1, 2}, Ivana Rošková^{1, 2}, Miloš Duba^{1, 2}, Eduard Neuman^{1, 2}, Marek Sova^{1, 2}, Tomáš Kazda^{3, 4}, Marek Večeřa⁵, Jiří Šána⁵

¹ Neurochirurgická klinika, LF MU Brno

² Neurochirurgická klinika, FN Brno

³ Klinika radiační onkologie, LF MU Brno

⁴ Klinika radiační onkologie, MOÚ Brno

⁵ CEITEC, MU Brno

Brain metastases are a serious complication of cancer. There has been an increase in the radicality and safety of resection procedures due to advances in brain imaging methods, perioperative electrophysiological monitoring and instrumentation, while reducing surgical mortality and morbidity. Surgical resection is still considered the first therapeutic option. It is indicated mainly in patients with solitary brain metastasis in an accessible location, in good clinical condition and with a favorable prognosis. It is relatively contraindicated in the case of uncontrolled cancer, poor clinical condition, in the case of radiosensitive tumors a poor prognosis and the presence of more than three brain metastases. It is possible to surgically treat two or three metastases, which may be debatable in some aspects. In a similar way it is for recurrent metastases, where unambiguous general recommendations are not defined, and an individual approach is preferred, taking into account a number of prognostic factors.

Keywords: brain metastasis, resection, radiotherapy, radiosurgery.

Published: October 11, 2021  Show citation