Metastatic Brain Tumors:

Approximately 20-40% of patients with systemic cancer will develop brain metastasis. Location can involve several areas within the skull with the most common being in the brain. Lung, breast, melanoma, colon and renal cell cancers are the more common primaries to metastasis.

The majority of patients present with progressive neurological deterioration. Mets can cause pressure because of size and swelling and depending upon location can cause weakness in the limbs, seizures and loss of speech. Some metastatic brain tumors can spontaneously bleed causing an acute deterioration.

Management of patients is complex and can include surgical excision, chemotherapy, whole brain radiation and/or stereotactic radiosurgery (i.e. Gamma Knife).