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http://dx.doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2015.16.4.1435

Radiotherapy for Brain Metastases in Southern Thailand: Workload, Treatment Pattern and Survival  

Phungrassami, Temsak (Division of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, Songklanagarind Hospital)
Sriplung, Hutcha (Epidemiology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University)
Publication Information
Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention / v.16, no.4, 2015 , pp. 1435-1442 More about this Journal
Abstract
Purpose: To study the patient load, treatment pattern, survival outcome and its predictors in patients with brain metastases treated by radiotherapy. Materials and Methods: Data for patients with brain metastases treated by radiotherapy between 2003 and 2007 were collected from medical records, the hospital information system database, and a population-based tumor registry database until death or at least 5 years after treatment and retrospectively reviewed. Results: The number of treatments for brain metastases gradually increased from 48 in 2003 to 107 in 2007, with more than 70% from lung and breast cancers. The majority were treated with whole brain radiation of 30 Gy (3 Gy X 10 fractions) by cobalt-60 machine, using radiation alone. The overall median survival of the 418 patients was 3.9 months. Cohort analysis of relative survival after radiotherapy was as follows: 52% at 3 months, 18% at 1 year and 3% at 5 years in males; and 66% at 3 months, 26% at 1 year and 7% at 5 years in females. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the patients treated with combined modalities had a better prognosis. Poor prognostic factors included primary cancer from the lung or gastrointestinal tract, emergency or urgent consultation, poor performance status (ECOG 3-4), and a hemoglobin level before treatment of less than 10 g/dl. Conclusions: This study identified an increasing trend of patient load with brain metastases. Possible over-treatment and under-treatment were demonstrated with a wide range of survival results. Practical prognostic scoring systems to assist in decision-making for optimal treatment of different patient groups is absolutely necessary; it is a key strategy for balancing good quality of care and patient load.
Keywords
Radiotherapy; cancer; brain metastases; survival; workload; Thailand;
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