METASTATIC DISEASE IN THE CEREBELLUM - THE LSU EXPERIENCE IN 1981-1993

We retrospectively determined the outcome of management of metastatic disease in the cerebellum (MDC) in 45 patients because MDC is consider ed to be more immediately life-threatening than metastases in other in tracranial locations. Treatment consisted of tumor resection and radio therapy (RR; n = 11) or of radiotherapy alone (RA; n = 34). Significan t differences in the median survival (15 months for RR and 3 months fo r RA, p = 0.005) and in survival rates at 1 year (61 +/- 30% for RR an d 9 +/- 10% for RA, p < 0.001) and at 2 years (15 +/- 22% for RR and 0 % for RA, p < 0.05) were noted. This combined management program of su rgery followed by radiotherapy for MDC produced a worthwhile gain in s urvival.