Small cell lung cancer with solitary brain metastasis treated with complete resection

Abstract

The common treatment modality for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer is chemotherapy, which significantly improves survival in these patients. However, the median survival is still poor and usually does not reach 12 months. For a long time, surgery has not played any role in the treatment of small cell lung cancer. In recent years, the operative approach has been accepted as a form of treatment for patients with limited-stage disease. However, in patients with resectable primary carcinoma and solitary metastasis, surgery is not recommended, although it is the standard method of treatment in patients with non-small cell lung cancer and other malignancies. We report the longterm survival of a patient with metastatic small cell lung cancer treated with complete resection of both the primary tumor and the solitary brain metastasis.

Successful treatment of a solitary brain metastasis from small cell lung cancer with whole brain radiotherapy and stereotactic radiosurgery boost: A case report

“…Surgical excision of both the brain lesion and lung mass was carried out followed by adjuvant platinum‐based chemotherapy and WBRT. The patient remained alive and disease‐free for 78 months …”

Treatment and Prevention of Brain Metastases in Small Cell Lung Cancer

“…Case reports exist of long-term survival after surgical resection of solitary SCLC CNS metastases; however, no large or randomized trials have been completed and surgical resection is not considered standard of care. 81,82…”

“…However, even if the only radiographic disease is a solitary brain metastasis in SCLC, the likelihood of micrometastases is very high and the tumor is considered noncurable. Case reports exist of long-term survival after surgical resection of solitary SCLC CNS metastases; however, no large or randomized trials have been completed and surgical resection is not considered standard of care 81,82…”