Is Whole Brain Radiotherapy Enough for Palliative Care of Patients with Infratentorial Brain Metastases from Lung or Breast Cancer?

Abstract Background: Brain metastases (BM) occur in almost one third of patients with solid tumors. The aim of the study was to compare the prognosis of patients treated with whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) among patients with supra- or infratentorial lesions.Material and Methods: At a single center, 263 patients with either breast (BC) or lung (LC) cancer, that developed BM and received treatment with WBRT, were analyzed during an 8-year period.Results: A total of 152 patients with BC and 111 with LC were analyzed, median age at the time of BM was 50.7 years, systemic activity other than BM was detected in 91%. Newly diagnosed BM were supratentorial and infratentorial in 133 patients (51%); exclusively supratentorial in 105 patients (40%); and exclusively infratentorial in 10%. Globally, 238 patients (90%) had supratentorial lesions, and 158 (60%) had infratentorial lesions. Median overall survival was 13 months (95%CI 11.1-14.8 months), without significant difference between supra- or infratentorial location.Conclusion: In patients with LC or BC that develop BM, palliative WBRT is equally effective in those with supra- or infratentorial locations.