The Prevention of Brain Metastases in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer by Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients frequently develop brain metastases (BM), even though the initial imaging with brain CT or MRI was negative. Stage III patients have the highest risk to develop BM, with an incidence of approximately 30%. BM can lead to neurocognitive disorders, loss of quality of life (QoL), and they are the most important factors influencing patient's overall survival (OS). Although a radical local treatment of BM may be possible with primary radiosurgery or after resection, the prognosis often remains poor. Preventing the development of BM through prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) may improve the outcome of these patients.

Methods

Data from published randomized trials comparing PCI with non-PCI were sought using electronic databa

SUBMITTER: Witlox WJA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6070634 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature