Caracterización de pacientes operados de metástasis cerebral en el Instituto de Neurocirugía Asenjo (INCA)

Abstract

There are few national reports about surgical treatment of these patients. Objective: Description of patients that underwent surgical metastases surgery, survival and functionality. Methods: Retrospective study including all patients treated with surgery between 2003 and 2006 in Asenjo Neurosurgery Institute, which histological diagnosis confirmed brain metastasis. After surgery, follow up was made by telephone to determine survival and functional impairment. Results: A total of fifty patients underwent surgery. The most frequent primary tumor was lung with 28%. The distribution of lesions in cerebrum, cerebellum and brainstem was: 74%, 22% and 4% respectively. Telephone contact after surgery was successful in 17 patients, of whom 10 received postoperative radiotherapy, 4 didn't receive any other treatment and 3 didn't provide information. The overall rate of survival in the 17 patients was 45,7 weeks. When the postoperative radiotherapy subgroup was compared with only surgery subgroup, the mean survival was 46,7 and 31 weeks respectively, with no significant difference (p > 0,2). Functional impairment increased from 4 patients in preoperatory to 8 after surgery. Conclusions: In this group, the combination of surgery plus radiotherapy increased the survival in 3,9 months. The increase in functional impairment after surgery can be explained because of the primary tumor progression. An appropriate selection of patients for surgery would result in an increase in the number of operated patients, and the experience in the management for these patients.