Title: Effect of Whole-Brain Radiotherapy in Alleviating Symptoms and Improving Quality of life in Patients with Brain Metastases – A Prospective Study
Authors: Dr Jewel Joseph, Dr Mahadevan R, Dr Ajith Kumar .V.R, Dr Shehna A Khader, Dr Prema. K.R, Dr K.L.Jayakumar
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v7i11.97
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Brain metastases are a common complication of cancer, and a cause of significant patient morbidity and mortality. 20-40% of cancer patients will develop metastases to brain in the course of their illness, making them the most common intracranial neoplasm in adults. A prospective observational study was done in the Department of Radiotherapy, Government Medical College Thrissur, with the primary objective of evaluating the symptom burden of the patients with brain metastasis before and after whole brain radiotherapy.
Methods: 64 patients of radiologically proven brain metastasis who satisfied the inclusion criteria were given whole brain radiotherapy with a dose of 30 Gy in 10 fractions over 2 weeks with Cobalt-60 unit. Patients were made to fill a symptom check list comprising of 10 items before radiation and during post radiation follow up at one month.
Conclusion: External beam radiotherapy with dose of 30 Gy in 10 fractions over 2 weeks achieved good palliation in terms of symptom improvement, improvement in performance status, neurological status and quality of life, especially in patients with good performance status and neurological status at presentation.
Keywords: Brain metastasis; whole brain radiotherapy; quality of life.
