INNV-03. THE YIELD OF SCREENING MRI AMONG STAGE IV NON SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER PATIENTS

BACKGROUND Brain metastases are a common complication of non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Approximately 10 percent of newly diagnosed patients with advanced NSCLC have brain metastases. The purpose of this study was to determine whether using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for early screening of brain metastases can improve survival. Material and METHODS A retrospective analysis of newly diagnosed stage IV NSCLC treated at Davidoff Cancer Center, Israel, between the years 2019-2020. Only patients who were neurologically asymptomatic were included in the study. The study population was divided into two groups. Group A included patients who underwent screening MRI within 12 weeks form diagnosis and group B included those who did not undergo screening MRI. Clinical and radiographic data were collected form the medical records. RESULTS 379 patients were included in the study, of whom 170 underwent screening MRI. Of the patients who underwent screening MRI 54 were diagnosed with brain metastases. On univariate analysis screening MRI was corelated with better survival [group A median survival 24 month, group B median survival 18 month, p=0.003 HR 1.4 CI 1.12-1.75]. On multivariate analysis that included functional status (ECOG 0-2 compared to 3 and above) and age- screening MRI corelated with survival (p=0.04 HR 1.28 CI 1.02-1.6). Subgroup analysis according to molecular subgroup will be presented in the conference. CONCLUSION In this study screening MRI among stage IV NSCLC correlated with better survival even when adjusted to functional status and age.