| Purpose: To determine the technique and impact of stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) on the clinical course and follow-up CT/MRI scan of brain metastasis. Methods and Materials: From March 2001 to June 2003, 49 patients with 81 brain metastases focuses had been treated using 6 MV linear accelerator based SRT. All of them had pathological diagnosis and had been treated with whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) before or after the SRT. The prescribed dose to tumor margin varied from 25~38.4Gy using a collimator size of 7.5-40mm. CT/MRI was taken immediately before and 6 months after treatment. Results: The follow-up duration ranged from 6-30 months (mean 9.5 months). 8 patients were dead within 6 months after SRT. Clinical syndromes were relieved in 37 (75.5%) cases. Local control (CR+PR) was obtained in 68 (84%) of 81 brain metastases focuses. Local control of the tumors with the volume <33.5ccm and >33.5ccm was 87.8% and 71.4% separately. Demonstrate difference was found (p<0.05). There are 17 focuses has necrosis in the center, and the local control was 58.8%. It was found significant difference with the local control 90.6% of the focuses without necrosis (p<0.01).Conclusions: SRT can be used effectively in patients with brain metastatic tumors. In this study, combined WBRT and SRT for patients with metastatictumors significantly improves control of brain disease. Reasonable choice of indications can decrease the risk of complications. And we also should pay attention to chemotherapy of these patients.
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