Emergency oncology cases for whom stereotactic radiotherapy by cyberknife proved effective for cerebellar metastasis of lung cancer

BACKGROUND: Cerebellar metastasis sometimes causes symptoms such as ataxia and dizziness, or hydrocephalus by compression of the fourth ventricle, making emergency treatment necessary. We report two cases for whom we performed emergency stereotactic radiotherapy, and whose tumors decreased and symptoms improved. Case 1: A 58-year-old male was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer in December 2008, and received chemotherapy and conventional radiotherapy at another hospital. He developed difficulty in walking and experienced nausea from March 2010 on. Because neoplastic lesions had been found in the cerebellar vermis on computed tomography(CT)scan, he was referred to our hospital. We urgently performed stereotactic radiotherapy by CyberKnife, and his symptoms then improved. As a chest CT scan revealed a mass lesion in his right upper lobe, the diagnosis of recurrent small cell lung cancer was made, and we performed chemotherapy sequentially. Case 2: A 73-year-old female experienced severe headache and dizziness and noticed difficulty in walking in July 2010. Because neoplastic lesions had been found in the left cerebellar hemisphere on CT scan at another hospital, she was referred to our hospital. Chest X-ray films showed a mass lesion in the left middle lung field and cytologic examination of sputum showed squamous cell carcinoma. We urgently performed stereotactic radiotherapy by CyberKnife, and her symptoms then improved. Therefore, we performed chemotherapy sequentially. CONCLUSION: Stereotactic radiotherapy by CyberKnife is less invasive, and is one good treatment option in the event of an emergency.