Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37370802›Full record

ReviewCancers2023

PRO: Do We Still Need Whole-Brain Irradiation for Brain Metastases?

Ilinca Popp, Nanna E Hartong, Carsten Nieder, Anca-L Grosu

Open access · goldAbstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Cancers, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
11citing papers in PubMed
3.9field-weighted citation impact, top 6% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

11 citing papers in PubMed, 15 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

Ilinca PoppDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany.
Nanna E HartongDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany.
Carsten NiederDepartment of Oncology and Palliative Medicine, Nordland Hospital, 8092 Bodø, Norway.
Anca-L GrosuDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany.
University of Freiburg · DENordland Hospital Trust · NO

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

(1) Background: In recent decades, the use of whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT) in the treatment of brain metastases has significantly decreased, with clinicians fearing adverse neurocognitive events and data showing limited efficacy regarding local tumor control and overall survival. The present study thus aimed to reassess the role that WBRT holds in the treatment of brain metastases. (2) Methods: This review summarizes the available evidence from 1990 until today supporting the use of WBRT, as well as new developments in WBRT and their clinical implications. (3) Results: While one to four brain metastases should be exclusively treated with radiosurgery, WBRT does remain an option for patients with multiple metastases. In particular, hippocampus-avoidance WBRT, WBRT with dose escalation to the metastases, and their combination have shown promising results and offer valid alternatives to local stereotactic radiotherapy. Ongoing and published prospective trials on the efficacy and toxicity of these new methods are presented. (4) Conclusions: Unlike conventional WBRT, which has limited indications, modern WBRT techniques continue to have a significant role to play in the treatment of multiple brain metastases. In which situations radiosurgery or WBRT should be the first option should be investigated in further studies. Until then, the therapeutic decision must be made individually depending on the oncological context.

Indexed as

brain metastasescognitionhippocampus avoidanceWBRT

Identifiers

PMID37370802
PMCPMC10295923
OpenAlexW4380788735

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.