small_cell_lung_cancer_intracranial_metastases_outcome [Neurosurgery Wiki]

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The prognosis of patients with brain metastases from SCLC is poor despite years of research. 

The response rate to brain irradiation is around 50%, but survival rates are relatively short. In a majority of observations published until now brain metastases were found to be an independent prognostic factor for short survival. However, few individual trials have not found brain metastases to affect survival adversely
((Giannone L, Johnson DH, Hande KR, Greco FA. Favorable prognosis of brain metastases in small cell lung cancer. Ann Intern Med. 1987;106:386–9.))
((van Hazel GA, Scott M, Eagan RT. The effect of CNS metastases on the survival of patients with small cell cancer of the lung. Cancer. 1983;51:933–7.))
((van Oosterhout AG, van de Pol M, ten Velde GP, Twijnstra A. Neurologic disorder in 203 consecutive patients with small cell lung cancer. Cancer. 1996;77:1434–41.)).

In one of these trials the survival rates of the patients with extensive disease with or without brain metastases at the time of diagnosis was done. In this particular study extensive-stage patients with brain metastases and additional sites of metastatic disease had shorter survival compared to those with brain metastases alone (5 vs. 11 months)
((Giannone L, Johnson DH, Hande KR, Greco FA. Favorable prognosis of brain metastases in small cell lung cancer. Ann Intern Med. 1987;106:386–9.)).

There are few studies showing comparable survival rates in patients with only brain metastases to the survival rates achieved in patients with LD
((van Hazel GA, Scott M, Eagan RT. The effect of CNS metastases on the survival of patients with small cell cancer of the lung. Cancer. 1983;51:933–7.))
((van Oosterhout AG, van de Pol M, ten Velde GP, Twijnstra A. Neurologic disorder in 203 consecutive patients with small cell lung cancer. Cancer. 1996;77:1434–41.)).