Whole-brain radiotherapy in the management of brain metastasis

Brain metastases are an important cause of morbidity and mortality, afflicting nearly 170,000 Americans annually. The prognosis for these patients is poor, with median survival times measured in months. In this review article, we present the standard treatment approach of whole-brain radiotherapy and discuss new directions, including the role of chemical modifiers and the management and prevention of neurocognitive deficits.