Seizures are uncommon in the first months after focused brain radiation
Original title: Early seizure risk after stereotactic radiosurgery for brain metastases: a multicenter analysis of LINAC- and gamma knife-treated cohorts.
How far along is this research?
- Lab cells
- Animals
- Review
- Tested in people
This was tested in people. That is the most reliable kind of research we share.
This study just looked back at records of people already getting this treatment.
The short version
Most people did not have a seizure in the first 90 days after this radiation.
What was studied. Doctors reviewed the records of 195 patients at two centers in Italy. All had focused radiation, called stereotactic radiosurgery: Radiation aimed at a small target, in one visit or a few. There is no cutting, despite the name. See the glossary, for cancer that spread to the brain.
What they found. A seizure in the first 90 days happened in 10 of 195 patients. Among those with no past seizures, it was 6 of 169. Among the 26 people who already had tumor-related seizures, 4 had one.
What this means, and what it doesn't
What it could mean: If you have never had a seizure, the risk right after this radiation looks low. The risk looked higher for people with more tumors or a larger treated area. The radiation dose and the type of machine did not seem to change the risk.
What it doesn't mean: This is not a new treatment, and it is not a promise of a cure. The team looked back at old records, so it cannot prove what caused the seizures. Only a few people had seizures, so the numbers are rough. It cannot tell you your own risk. Ask your care team about that.
Source: PubMed, October 28, 2026 · Read the original
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