SUMMARY

Although prognosis of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) patients with brain metastases (BMs) has improved over the last years, the overall survival remains poor. Indications for surgical resection of a single BM have been well defined in the literature: Limited and or controlled systemic disease, Karnofsky performance scale ≥70, solitary lesion larger than 3 cm, non-eloquent area of the brain and unclear pathological diagnosis. However, recent advances in surgical technique and intraoperative technologies have facilitated surgery, including surgery for multiple lesions and lesions in eloquent brain areas.1–4 With the advance of molecularly targeted therapy, selection of patients who qualify for surgery of their BMs has become even more complex.5 The purpose of this review is to determine the indications and timing of surgery for brain metastases in NSCLC.

BELG J MED ONCOL 2021;15(3):104-11