Analysis of the Effectiveness of Radiosurgery in the Treatment of Brain Neoplasms: A Narrative Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55892/jrg.v9i20.3225Keywords:
Radiosurgery, Brain Neoplasms, EffectivenessAbstract
Brain neoplasms are a significant public health problem with a high social impact. There are more than 100 types of brain tumors, and their diagnosis is facilitated by technological advances in radiological methods. Treatment options are vast and include surgical approaches, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and radiosurgery. This research is a narrative review that seeks to identify and explain the results of different scientific studies on the effectiveness of radiosurgery in the treatment of brain neoplasms. The following databases were used: PUBMED, Virtual Health Library (BVS), and SciELO. The descriptors present in the Health Sciences Descriptors (DeCS/MeSH) platform: "Radiosurgery"; "Brain Neoplasms"; "Effectiveness" were applied in each of the databases. Articles published between 2020 and 2025 were selected. Language criteria were not used for study eligibility. The narrative review consisted of 17 articles, selected after analysis and application of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Radiosurgery presents higher overall and progression-free survival rates than conventional radiotherapy, in addition to low morbidity levels and low rates of adverse effects, such as radiation necrosis and cognitive decline. Radiosurgery can be combined, mainly in a neoadjuvant manner, with other treatment modalities such as immunotherapy, composed of the drugs Nivolumab and Ipilimumab, and surgical approaches, in order to increase the chances of positive outcomes. The use of radiosurgery in palliative care is positive, since survival rates are similar to total radiotherapy and present a lower rate of cognitive decline. The literature indicates that radiosurgery as a therapeutic alternative for patients with brain neoplasms is effective and safe, with better survival rates, progression-free survival time locally and distantly, reduction in lesion size, and low neurocognitive loss.
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