Background: Brain metastases are the most common cerebral tumors, have a poor prognosis and their incidence is five times higher than primary brain tumors. Aim: To analyze the survival of patients with the diagnosis of brain metastases, operated in our institution. Patients and methods: We retrospectively reviewed all patients operated from January 1989 to December 2001, whose pathological diagnosis confirmed the presence of cerebral metastases. The death date of each patient was obtained from the analysis of death certificates, obtained from the computerized National Registry. Results: In 46 operated patients, the date of death was determined. In 23 of them, information about primary site of malignancy, type of surgery performed and adjunctive treatment with Holocerebral Radiotherapy (Rt) was obtained. The overall median survival time of the 46 patients was 29 weeks (range 4207). Thirty percent of patients were alive one year after surgery. Among those patients with complete clinical information, the median survival of 16 patients who received postoperative Rt was 41 weeks (range 12207), compared to a survival of 18 weeks (range 872), among those that did not receive Rt (p = 0.04). Conclusions: The median survival for patients operated for cerebral metastases in our institution is 29 weeks. Those who are operated and receive Rt, have a longer survival, than those who did not receive Rt (Rev Méd Chile 2005; 133: 190-4)