Brain irradiation for metastatic disease of lung origin

A review was made of the records of our patients with carcinoma of the lung who received brain irradiation for metastatic disease during the period of July 1966 through February 1971. Fifteen patients underwent craniotomy prior to irradiation. Forty-seven patients had irradiation only. The survival for the entire group of patients was 59% at 3 months, 28% at 6 months, and 12% at one year. The difference in survival seen between the patients treated with surgery plus irradiation and those treated by irradiation only had no statistical significance. Following the course of irradiation, objective neurologic improvement was achieved in 56% (35/62) of the patients. The patients who underwent craniotomy still required whole brain irradiation because without it regrowth of the tumor or other metastasis might have ensued. Therefore, whole brain irradiation should be the treatment of choice for these patients with brain metastasis of lung origin, whose life expectancy is so limited.