Gammaknife radiosurgery in patients with melanoma brain metastasis

Melanoma refers to malignant tumors with a primary metastasis to the brain. Complications associated with brain damage are the leading cause of death in patients with this pathology. The study analyzed the results of treatment of 57 patients with metastatic brain lesions. Treatment was conducted on Leksell Gamma Knife 4C (Elekta, Sweden) in the period from 2009 to 2012. The average lifespan of the treated patients was 7,2 months from the first radiosurgical operation, local control was achieved in 92% metastatic brain lesions, disease-free three-month survival rate was 73%, six-month 24% and twelve-month 7%. Our data confirm that radiosurgery is an effective method for the treatment of patients with metastasis of radioresistant tumors, including melanoma, to the brain. The treatment increases survival rate and allows to achieve high local control with minimal mortality.

melanoma, radiosurgery