Retrospective analysis of stereotactic radiosurgery for brain metastases from nasopharyngeal carcinoma

A retrospective analysis of patients of the University of Pittsburgh (PA) Medical Center stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) identified 44 patients receiving SRS for 68 total brain metastases from nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Twenty-four patients underwent whole brain fractionated radiation therapy and 20 patients underwent surgical resection before SRS. The median overall survival from SRS was 9 months (range 0-86) with local tumor progression in 11 patients after SRS at a median time of 4 months (range 2-36). Local tumor control was achieved in 56 of the 68 metastases (82.4%). Five patients developed new brain metastases at a median of 6 months (range 3-84) after SRS. One patients experienced adverse radiation effects. The authors conclude that SRS, although historically used as a salvage option after surgery and radiation therapy, deserves further utilization as a primary strategy in patients with brain metastases from NPC.