Cerebellar metastases radiosurgery
🔬 Clinical Context
- Cerebellar metastases represent 20–30% of all brain metastases.
- Frequent primaries:
- Lung
- Breast
- Melanoma
- Renal cell carcinoma
- Critical concerns:
- Brainstem compression
- Fourth ventricle involvement
- Risk of obstructive hydrocephalus or herniation
🎯 Indications for Radiosurgery
- Lesion size <3–4 cm or volume <10–15 cc
- Oligometastatic disease (≤4 lesions)
- Good functional status (KPS ≥70)
- Controlled systemic disease
- Life expectancy >3–6 months
💡 Advantages
- Minimally invasive
- High local control (85–95% at 6–12 months)
- Outpatient or short-stay procedure
- Defers or avoids WBRT
- Preserves neurocognition
- Often avoids surgical resection
⚙️ Technical Considerations
- Technologies:
- Gamma Knife (GKRS)
- CyberKnife
- LINAC-based SRS
- Hypofractionated SRS (hfSRS)
- Dose example:
- 18–24 Gy in 1 fraction (adapted to size/location)
- Frameless or frame-based delivery
🧠 Risks and Follow-Up
- Complications:
- Radiation necrosis (5–15%)
- Cerebellar edema → treat with corticosteroids
- Lesions near brainstem → consider hypofractionation
- Surveillance:
- MRI brain with contrast:
- 1st control at 2–3 months
- Then every 2–3 months
🧾 Evidence Summary
- Retrospective studies show:
- High local control
- Comparable to surgery for small, asymptomatic lesions
- Preferred approach for large/symptomatic lesions:
- Surgical resection + adjuvant SRS to cavity