Brain metastases is the largest single indication for Gamma Knife® surgery , because of the successful outcome and the method’s easiness and patient friendliness.

Gamma Knife surgery shows good tumor rate control and improves quality of life¹.

More than 200 papers discuss the advantages of stereotactic surgery with Leksell Gamma Knife. Studies also point in the direction that SRS has a better clinical outcome compared to whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) alone (RTOG9508).

Leksell Gamma Knife is designed for fast and efficient treatment of multiple brain metastases. No other technology has the ability to treat multiple targets in the brain with the same clinical outcome and speed as Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion . Today more than 100,000 patients have been treated with Gamma Knife surgery for brain metastases.

Managing brain metastases means prolonged life and improved quality of life and should always be considered in the choice of treatment method.

CASE:

According to the American Cancer Society , between 20 and 40 percent of all cancer patients develop metastatic tumors in the brain.

This is the single most common type of intracranial tumor. In the US alone, around 150,000 people are diagnosed with brain metastases each year. The incidence continues to increase as advances are made in the treatment of systemic cancer.

The most common primary sources of brain metastases are lung (17%), renal cell (10.5%), and breast (5.2%) cancer and melanoma (8%)².

Improvements in imaging quality and accessibility have also contributed to the increased number of patients in whom metastasis is diagnosed. Modern imaging technology can detect smaller lesions, allowing for earlier intervention than was possible in the past and perhaps increasing the opportunity to control CNS disease. The majority of patients who have local CNS tumor control die of extracranial disease progression, whereas those with uncontrolled brain metastases more often die of neurological causes. Therefore, achieving local control is of primary importance when considering treatment options in patients with brain metastases³.

References:

1. Michael L. Smith et.al. Neurosurg. Focus / Volume 22 / March, 2007
2. Schouten LJ, et.al A: Incidence of brain metastases in a cohort of patients with carcinoma of the breast, colon, kidney, lung and melanoma. Cancer 94: 2698–2705, 2002
3. Moksha Ranasinghe et.al. Neurosurg. Focus / Volume 22 / March, 2007