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Surgery

Stereotactic radiosurgery alone to treat brain metastases

Brain metastases are a challenge for the oncologist, with 20–40% of cancer patients developing intracranial metastases during the course of their illness. The incidence of brain metastases is increasing as a result of improvements in systemic therapy and imaging capabilities, and increased use of screening. Brain metastases pose not only a risk to mortality but also a risk of neurologic, cognitive and emotional difficulties.

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Figure 1: A solitary brain metastasis before and 34 months after treatment with stereotactic radiosurgery alone.

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Correspondence to Laura A. Vallow.

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The author declares no competing financial interests.

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Vallow, L. Stereotactic radiosurgery alone to treat brain metastases. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 6, 377–378 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrclinonc.2009.84

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