Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Outcomes in an Endovascular Right of First Refusal Neurosurgical Environment

BACKGROUND

Randomized controlled trials demonstrate that endovascular techniques yield improved outcomes compared with microsurgical approaches. However, not all patients are suitable candidates for endovascular management. This study aimed to determine if healthy patients managed microsurgically could achieve functional outcomes comparable to patients managed endovascularly.

METHODS

Patients treated for ruptured aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage at 2 level 1 stroke centers from January 2012 through December 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. All cases were evaluated in an endovascular right of first refusal neurosurgical environment. We collected relevant clinical and follow-up data and created a generalized linear model to identify differences between patients treated endovascularly versus microsurgically. A propensity score model accounting for these differences was used to predict patient outcomes. Functional outcomes were independently assessed using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) with good functional outcome defined as modified Rankin Scale score <3.

RESULTS

The study included 588 patients (211 microsurgical, 377 endovascular); median age was 58 years (interquartile range: 40-86 years); in-hospital mortality was 13%. Age, aneurysm size, and aneurysm location significantly predicted treatment modality (all P < 0.05). After greedy-type matching (210 microsurgical, 210 endovascular), patients managed microsurgically were less likely to be discharged home (odds ratio = 0.6, 95% confidence interval 0.4-0.9, P = 0.01). Functional differences disappeared over time; patients in the 2 treatment arms had similar functional outcomes at 3 months (odds ratio = 1.1, 95% confidence interval 0.7-1.8, P = 0.66) and 1 year after subarachnoid hemorrhage (odds ratio = 1.3, 95% confidence interval 0.8-2.1, P = 0.38).

CONCLUSIONS

In an endovascular right of first refusal neurosurgical environment, practitioners can treat patients who are not good endovascular candidates microsurgically and achieve functional outcomes comparable to patients managed endovascularly.

Single-Session Gamma Knife Radiosurgery for Patients With 20 or More Brain Metastases

BACKGROUND

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is a widely accepted treatment modality for brain metastases. The role of SRS in patients with higher numbers of metastases remains controversial.

OBJECTIVES

To define outcomes in patients with ≥20 brain metastases managed using single-session SRS.

METHODS

This single-institution retrospective cohort study studied 75 patients (26 non-small-cell lung cancer, 21 small-cell lung cancer, 14 breast cancer, and 14 melanoma) undergoing single-session SRS. The median number of tumors per patient was 24, and the median cumulative tumor volume was 3.70 cc. The median margin dose prescribed to each individual tumor was 16 Gy. The median integral cranial dose was 5492 mJ. The median beam on time was 160 minutes. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed with significance set at P < .05.

RESULTS

The median overall survival after SRS was 8.8 months (patients with non-small-cell lung cancer), 4.6 months (patients with small-cell lung cancer), 11.3 months (patients with breast cancer), and 4.1 months (patients with melanoma). Primary cancer type, number of brain metastases, and concurrent immunotherapy were significant factors in predicting survival. Local tumor control rate per patient was 97.3% and 94.6% at 6 and 12 months after SRS, respectively. Thirty-six patients underwent additional SRS for new tumor development with a median time after SRS of 5 months. Three patients experienced adverse radiation events.

CONCLUSION

Single-session SRS is a well-tolerated palliative treatment option even in patients with ≥20 brain metastases, achieving local control rate >90% with low risks of neurotoxicity while continuing concurrent systemic oncological care.

RADT-04. SINGLE SESSION GAMMA KNIFE RADIOSURGERY TO TREAT PATIENTS WITH 20 OR MORE BRAIN METASTASES

BACKGROUND

Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) has become a primary management option for brain metastases (BMs). This present study aims to review outcomes in patients with ≥ 20 BMs treated in a single session SRS and to identify predictors of local tumor control (LTC) and overall survival (OS).

METHODS

We identified 75 patients including 26 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), 21 small cell lung cancer (SCLC), 14 breast cancer (BC), and 14 melanoma patients who underwent SRS for ≥ 20 BMs between 2014 and 2020. The median number of tumors was 24 (range 20 – 52), and the median cumulative tumor volume was 3.70 cc (0.13 – 62.49 cc). The median margin dose was 16 Gy (14 – 20 Gy). Median skull integral dose was 5492 mJ (range 1372 – 11243 mJ). The median treatment time for each session was 160 min. Outcome variables were assessed using univariate and multivariate analyses with p &lt; 0.05.

RESULTS

Median OS after SRS was 5.8 months (range 0.1 – 73.2 months). Primary cancer type and concurrent immunotherapy were significant predictive factors for patient OS after SRS (p = 0.01, 0.05, and 0.02, respectively). LTC rate at 6 and 12 months after SRS was 95.7% and 83.7%, respectively. Thirty (40.0%) patients underwent additional SRS and 3 patients (4%) received post-SRS WBRT due to distant tumor recurrence. The median time to distant recurrence was 5 months (range 2-28 months). SRS-induced adverse radiation effects (ARE) events were observed in 3 patients (4.0%; 1 NSCLC, 1 SCLC, and 1 melanoma).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that patients with ≥ 20 BMs can be safely treated with SRS with an excellent LTC rate and a low risk of ARE. Newly developed BMs can be treated with repeat SRS. This single-session SRS allows patients to proceed with systemic cancer care without interruption.