SEER-based analysis of survival benefits with primary tumor surgery in patients with synchronous brain metastases

Evidence about the prognostic value of primary tumor surgery (PTS) in patients with synchronous brain metastases is controversial. Propensity score matched analysis of the SEER database (2010-2018) showed that PTS was associated with better cause-specific survival for patients with synchronous brain metastases (BMs) secondary to NSCLC, breast cancer, renal cancer, and colorectal cancer (A panels), while patients who were recommended for PTS by surgeons but did not undergo PTS had similar CSS as patients who were not recommended for PTS (B panels). No survival benefit with PTS was seen in patients with BMs from SCLC, melanoma, and liver cancer.