A Phase II Pilot Study of Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Limited Malignant Melanoma Brain Metastases

Patients must have no more than 3 brain metastases as determined by MRI with no greater than 1 cm separation between images. Patients must have bidimensionally measurable disease; prior histologic confirmation of malignant melanoma, either at the primary site or any metastatic site; patients with any brain lesion greater than 4 cm in maximum dimension, leptomeningeal spread, brain stem lesions or lesions within 5 mm of the optic chiasm are ineligible. If multiple lesions are present and one lesion is > 3 cm, the other lesion(s) must not exceed 3 cm in maximum diameter. Patients must not have received prior radiation , STRS or conventional RT; SWOG PS 0 - 2, prior systemic therapy allowed; patients who have had surgical resection of a brain metastasis must have 1 or 2 other brain mets and/or have measurable residual enhancing disease at the surgical site.