Frequency of brain metastasis in adenocarcinoma and large cell carcinoma of the lung: correlation with survival

Journal Article · Sat Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1983 · Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0360-3016(83)90319-X· OSTI ID:7014362

Komaki, R; Cox, J D; Stark, R

From January 1970 through December 1981, 469 patients with histologically or cytologically proven adenocarcinoma (AC) (349) and large cell carcinoma (LC) (120) of the lung were seen at the Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals. One quarter (126/469) of these patients had brain metastasis: 48 patients presented with brain metastasis and 78 patients subsequently developed brain metastasis. Brain was the dominant site of metastasis in 82 patients who received only cranial + thoracic irradiation; 37 patients (17 simultaneous, 20 metachronous) also required irradiation of other sites of metastasis. All 17 patients with LC, and 47/61 (77%) with AC who developed metachronous brain metastasis did so within one year. The cumulative probability of brain metastasis increased with survival to the levels predicted by autopsy studies. Therapeutic brain irradiation may result in long-term survival in patients with single organ brain metastasis. Since patients with AC and LC so frequently develop brain metastasis and the brain may be the only site of metastasis, prophylactic cranial irradiation may significantly reduce morbidity and mortality from these diseases.

• Research Organization: Medical Coll. of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals, Milwaukee
• OSTI ID: 7014362
• Journal Information: Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 9:10; ISSN IOBPD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550603* -- Medicine-- External Radiation in Therapy-- (1980-)
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
BRAIN
CARCINOMAS
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
DISEASES
EVALUATION
LUNGS
MEDICINE
METASTASES
NEOPLASMS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANS
PATIENTS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOLOGY
RADIOTHERAPY
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SURVIVAL TIME
THERAPY