[Radiation treatment results in metastases of small-cell lung cancer to the brain].

Altogether 31 patients aged 36-66 were given gamma-beam therapy for metastases of small cell pulmonary carcinoma to the brain. Before irradiation 12 patients received chemotherapy alone, 17 chemotherapy and irradiation of a primary focus and 2 surgery followed by chemotherapy. Simultaneously with a primary tumor brain metastases were found in 6 out of 7 patients. Brain involvement in 24 patients occurred 2.5-26.4 mos. after initiation of treatment. The presence of brain metastases was confirmed by the clinical symptoms, the electroencephalography and computerized tomography data. Brain irradiation in most of the patients was done in the presence of dehydration therapy. Twenty-four patients received a complete preplanned therapeutic course, in the other 7 patients treatment had to be interrupted because of the aggravation of symptoms. A complete regression of different brain symptoms was observed in 60-100% of the cases, the improvement of the focal symptoms and the state of the higher nervous activity was observed in a somewhat less percentage of the cases. Six out of 24 patients lived for 1 year and longer after irradiation of brain metastases. The results of this study have shown that brain metastases of small cell pulmonary carcinoma respond to radiotherapy. The dose of 30-40 Gy is sufficient to do away with severe neurological symptoms in most of the patients.