Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Newly Diagnosed Brain Metastases From Kidney Cancer, Melanoma, or Sarcoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed renal cell carcinoma, melanoma, or sarcoma with 1-3 newly diagnosed intraparenchymal brain metastases based on contrast-enhanced MRI (CT scan acceptable if patients have a medical contraindication to MRI)
* No lesion greater than 4.0 cm in diameter and, if multiple lesions are present, no more than one greater than 3.0 cm in diameter
* No limitation on the extent of extracranial metastatic disease
* No metastases in the brain stem, midbrain, pons, or medulla
* No leptomeningeal metastases documented by MRI or CSF evaluation
* No metastases within 10 mm of optic nerve or chiasm
* No history of multiple liver metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 18 and over

Performance status:

* ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

* At least 3 months

Hematopoietic:

* Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,000/mm\^3
* Platelet count greater than 50,000/mm\^3
* Hemoglobin greater than 8 g/dL

Hepatic:

* Not specified

Renal:

* Not specified

Other:

* No major medical illness
* No psychoses
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* Not specified

Chemotherapy:

* Prior chemotherapy allowed
* Systemic chemotherapy may be continued at the discretion of investigator after completion of radiosurgery

Endocrine therapy:

* Not specified

Radiotherapy:

* No prior cranial radiotherapy
* Prior or concurrent radiotherapy to noncranial sites allowed

Surgery:

* No prior surgical resection for brain metastases
* Prior stereotactic biopsy for diagnostic purposes allowed