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Management of Brain Metastases

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Shaped Beam Radiosurgery

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Abstract

Brain metastases are among the most feared complications of cancer. Improved systemic therapy has resulted in improved survival for patients with metastatic cancer and a rise in incidence of brain metastases, often as a sole site of failure. In this setting, both the efficacy and toxicity of brain metastasis treatment are of even greater importance. While treatment paradigms remain controversial, recent survival and neurocognitive outcomes data have led to a greater emphasis on stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), and a diminished use of whole-brain radiotherapy both in the initial and recurrent setting. SRS has also proven to be a viable alternative to surgical resection among select patients. As the number of patients and the number of lesions and sessions per patient increases, the comfort and logistics of treatment are of increasing importance. The emergence of image-guided frameless radiosurgery has provided a robust technique for safe and effective treatment of brain metastases with improved patient comfort and treatment logistics.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiation Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando, 1400 S. Orange Ave, Orlando, FL, 32806, USA

    Naren Ramakrishna

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  1. Naren Ramakrishna
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Correspondence to Naren Ramakrishna .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Department of Neurosurgery and Radiation, University of California, Le Conte Ave. 10495, Los Angeles, 90095, California, USA

    Antonio A. F. De Salles

  2. UCLA Medical Center, Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, Le Conte Ave 10945, Los Angeles, 90095, California, USA

    Alessandra Gorgulho

  3. David Geffen School of Medicine, Dept. Radiation Oncology, University of California, Los Angeles, UCLA Medical Plaza 200, Los Angeles, 90095, California, USA

    Nzhde Agazaryan

  4. , Department of Radiation Oncology, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, 1081 HV, Netherlands

    Ben Slotman

  5. David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, UCLA Medical Plaza 200, Los Angeles, 90095, California, USA

    Michael Selch

  6. BrainLAB, Inc., Westbrook Corporate Center 3, Westchester, 60154, Illinois, USA

    Aaaron J. Burwick

  7. Shaped-Beam Radiosurgery, Varian Medical Systems, Inc., Hansen Way 3100, Palo Alto, 94304, California, USA

    Raymond Schulz

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© 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Ramakrishna, N. (2011). Management of Brain Metastases. In: De Salles, A., et al. Shaped Beam Radiosurgery. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-11151-8_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-11151-8_12

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-11150-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-11151-8

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