Palliative care in patients who receive whole brain radiotherapy for brain metastases in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria.

Background: Brain Metastases is a devastating complication of Cancer affecting 10-50% of patients with systemic disease. It by far outnumbers primary Brain tumor in a 10:1 ratio.

Aims and Objective: To determine the age distribution, gender distribution, tumor of origin, commonest radiotherapy regimen and median survival of patients who received Whole Brain Radiotherapy for Brain Metastases.

Materials and Methods: Between May 2006-May 2015 patients who received Whole Brain Radiotherapy for Brain Metastases for confirmed Brain Metastases were studied in a Retrospective study and evaluated with respect to age, gender, tumor of origin and radiotherapy regimen. Patients Case files and treatment files were reviewed and results were analyzed using SPSS version 20th Edition.

Results: A total of 30 cases were reviewed. The age range of patients was between 16-70 years with a mean age of 43.5 years. Median age of 41.5 years. 83.4% of patients were female with remaining 16.7% males. The commonest tumor of origin was Breast Cancer (76.7%) followed by Lymphoma (6.7%),Lung (3.3%), Colon(3.3%), Endometrium(3.3%), Pancrease (3.3%), Paranasal Sinus (3.3%). Majority of patients 73.3% received 30Gy in 10# over 2 weeks. Median Survival is 3 months. The most common clinical presentation is Headache (46.6%).

Conclusion: Most Patients presented at advanced stages of their diseases. The mean age of patients that received Whole Brain Radiotherapy were in the fifth decade of life. More Females than Males received Whole Brain Radiotherapy.