Aim: This study aims to evaluate the response of brain metastases to whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) and the role of this treatment in influencing that response.Material and Methods: The study involved eighteen patients who received WBRT for brain metastases either at the time of diagnosis or during the course of their disease. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and neurological examinations were conducted 4 to 6 weeks and 8 to 10 weeks after the completion of WBRT.Results: According to our radiologic assessment, two patients (17%) had a complete response, six patients (50%) had a partial response, and four patients (33%) had stable disease 8-10 weeks after WBRT. The lesion of two patients with solitary brain metastasis vanished, and one lesion of two patients with multiple metastases radiologically disappeared at 8-10 weeks after WBRT. During the initial measurement, the diameter of the biggest lesion was 0.6 to 4.3 cm (average 2.5 cm), 8-10 weeks after whole brain radiotherapy, the corresponding diameter was 0 to 3.5 cm (average 1.6 cm). When the tumor volumes were evaluated, the range was between 78 mm3 and 623 mm3. The volumes at diagnosis and first magnetic resonance imaging after radiotherapy were compared, and a significant response rate was obtained (p=0.008). After WBRT, a decrease in intensity or disappearance of the initial neurological symptoms and signs was seen in all patients.Conclusion: In our study, WBRT provided a neurologic improvement in the patients with brain metastases, and 8-10 weeks after WBRT, a measurable reduction occurred in the size of the lesions in many of them. There is a need for studies with longer follow-ups and more patients focusing on the clinical utility of these findings.
Çukurçayır et al. (Thu,) studied this question.
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