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Case Report - (2018) Volume 6, Issue 4

Radiotherapy for Large Single Brain Metastasis of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Case Report

Choi JH*

Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine, Kosin University, Gospel Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea

*Corresponding Author:
Choi JH
Department of Radiation Oncology
College of Medicine, Kosin University
Gospel Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea
Tel: +82-51-990-6399
E-mail:1stdr@naver.com

Received date: October 24, 2018; Accepted date: October 31, 2018; Published date: November 02, 2018

Citation: Choi JH (2018) Radiotherapy for Large Single Brain Metastasis of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Case Report. Arch Can Res Vol.6 No.3:16. doi:10.21767/2254-6081.100177

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Abstract

Background: Lung cancer is the most common primary site of brain metastases. Patients with a single brain metastasis from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have the potential for long term survival. Case report: A 39-year-old man presented stage IIIB (cT2N3M0) NSCLC. He underwent concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Follow-up chest CT and PET-CT showed complete tumor remission. The patient had headache and visual symptom 18 months after completion of treatment. The brain MRI showed metastatic brain mass. The size of single mass was 6.6 cm. He refused surgical procedure for brain lesion. He received radiation therapy. Total dose to PTV was 30 Gy in 5 fractions. The radiation therapy was well tolerated. Partial response of brain lesion was achieved and remained stable for 10 months until bone metastasis was found. Conclusions: Fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT) in the current study could achieve good local tumor control and prevent neurological symptoms from worsening.

Keywords

Radiation therapy (RT); Radiosurgery; Chemotherapy

Introduction

Brain metastases are more common than all other primary intracranial tumors [1-3]. Lung cancer is the most common primary site [4-6]. Approximately 20–50% of patients present with a single lesion in the brain. Patients with a single brain metastasis from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have the potential for long term survival [7,8]. Treatment for this lesion includes some combination of steroids, whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT), local radiation therapy including stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), and surgical resection. The management for these patients is controversial. Although radiation therapy is non-invasive, whole brain radiation therapy have some brain toxicities. This shifted away from whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) toward local treatment modalities including radiosurgery (RS) and fractionated stereotactic radiation therapy (FSRT) [9-11].

Case Report

Patient

A 39-year-old man (ex-smoker) with no significant past medical history presented stage IIIB (cT2N3M0) NSCLC. He had chronic cough. Tumor-related symptoms included worsening of dyspnea on exertion. The biopsy proven histology of lung cancer was an adenocarcinoma. Computed tomography (CT) of chest and positron emission tomography (PET-CT) using 2-deoxy-2-[fluorine- 18]-fluoro-D-glucose showed 3.8 cm sized primary tumor in the right upper lobe and positive lymph nodes in the ipsilateral mediastinum and supra clavicular lymph node. There were no brain metastases on brain MRI. He was scheduled for concurrent chemoradiotherapy, consisting of lung irradiation with a total dose of 66 Gy in 33 fractions. Chemotherapy was administered concurrently with cisplatin and taxol. This regimen was repeated for 6 cycles. Two months after the last cycle of chemotherapy, chest CT and PET-CT showed the primary tumor and positive lymph nodes were disappeared. He had achieved clinically complete remission of lung cancer. At the time of 18 months after completion of treatment, he had headache and visual symptom of hemianopsia. A brain MRI revealed large single brain mass of left occipital area. The tumor mass in the axial plane of the brain MRI was measured at the longest cross-sectional diameter. Maximum diameter of metastatic brain mass was 6.6 cm. There were no recurrence of lung and regional lymph nodes. He refused surgical procedure for brain lesion. He received radiation therapy.

Radiotherapy

The radiation therapy was delivered with 6-MV photons to a partial brain field using intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) technique. CT was matched with brain MRI for definition of the mass. Gross tumor volume (GTV) was delineated. Clinical target volume (CTV) was not generated. Isotropic margin of 5 mm was added to GTV to generate the planning target volume (PTV). Volume of PTV was 160.0 cm3. The dose was prescribed to cover a minimum of 95% of PTV (Figure 1). Total dose to PTV was 30 Gy in 5 fractions. Mean brain dose was 12.2 Gy. Toxicity monitoring was performed every day to record any side effects. The radiation therapy was well tolerated with side effects of hair loss, scalp irritation. No worsening of brain symptoms was observed. Partial response of brain lesion was achieved and remained stable for 10 months until bone metastasis was found at spine.

acanceresearch-tomography

Figure 1: Isodose distribution in planning computed tomography slices in patient.

Discussion

Brain metastases occur in 6-18% of patients as the first site of failure in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and in up to 50% as a component of failure in patients who have loco-regionally advanced NSCLC treated with curative intent. Most brain metastases were evident within the first year after treatment [12-14]. The present case report demonstrates that fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT) can be considered as a feasible treatment in NSCLC patients with single large brain metastasis. The treatment of large brain metastases (>3 cm in maximum diameter) especially in patients with surgical contraindications. These patients who have brain metastases typically been treated with whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT), stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT) or a combination of these [15-19]. The treatment for large brain metastases is usually determined after considering some factors including tumor number in brain, tumor volume, location of tumor and patient’s performance status. The current study provides issue for discussion in the treatment of single large brain metastasis with no extracranial lesions. A large brain metastasis may contain many hypoxic cells that are resistant to radiation [20,21]. FSRT has radiobiological advantages over SRS for large brain metastasis, because reoxygenation of hypoxic tumor cells and redistribution of the cell cycle can be expected between the fractions in FSRT [22,23]. Several studies showed improved clinical results with FSRT for large brain metastases [24-28]. Additionally, FSRT has some clinical advantages compared with WBRT. Biologically higher doses can be delivered with FSRT than with WBRT.

Conclusion

In conclusion, FSRT in the current study could achieve good local tumor control and prevent neurological symptoms from worsening. The dose levels of 30 Gy in five fractions seemed to be tolerable and effective against large brain metastases.

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