['We investigated the role of whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT) which has been widely used as an adjuvant therapy for brain metastases.', 'The authors retrospectively reviewed 132 patients who underwent surgical resection for brain metastases. They were classified into five groups according to the dose of radiation therapy to the local brain (L) or to the whole-brain (W), independently; 0 Gy (Group A[L or W]), 20-29 Gy (Group B[L or W]), 30-39 Gy (Group C[L or W]), 40-49 Gy (Group D[L or W]) and 50 Gy or more (Group E[L or W]).', 'Local recurrence rates and times to tumor progression (TTP) of the original tumor were 53% and 3 months for Group A(L), 25% and 6 months for Group C(L), 11% and 7 months for Group D(L) and 12% and 12 months for Group E(L). Median survival times (MST) were 6 months for Group A(L), 8 months for Group C(L), 8 months for Group D(L) and 11 months for Group E(L). Distant recurrence rates and the TTP of new lesions in the distant area were 27% and 7 months for Group A(W), 20% and 6 months for Group B(W), 8% and 9 months for Group C(W), 13% and 13 months for Group D(W) and 4% and 14 months for Group E(W). The MST were 11 months for Group A(W), 11 months for Group B(W), 10 months for Group C(W), 9 months for Group D(W) and 6 months for group E(W).'] Is whole-brain radiation therapy beneficial as an adjuvant therapy for brain metastases compared with localized irradiation?