Whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) is a palliative option for patients with
brain metastases that alleviates symptoms, decreases the use of
corticosteroids
Corticosteroids are a class of steroid hormones that are produced in the adrenal cortex of vertebrates, as well as the synthetic analogues of these hormones. Two main classes of corticosteroids, glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids, are invol ...
needed to control tumor-associated
edema
Edema, also spelled oedema, and also known as fluid retention, dropsy, hydropsy and swelling, is the build-up of fluid in the body's tissue. Most commonly, the legs or arms are affected. Symptoms may include skin which feels tight, the area ma ...
, and potentially improves overall survival.
Usage
Whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) has been reported to increase the risk of
cognitive decline.
WBRT is sometimes used along with
stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) or surgery, and while these can improve survival for some patients with single brain metastasis, a 2021 systematic review of the literature found inconsistent results for overall survival.
References
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Chemotherapy