Neurosurgery Dr. Stoforou – Δρ. Κωνσταντία Στοφόρου – Νευροχειρουργός MD – PhD

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METASTATIC BRAIN TUMORS OR MALIGNANT BRAIN TUMORS

Metastatic brain tumors or malignant brain tumors

Metastatic brain tumors or malignant brain tumors are the most common form of brain tumors and are derived from tumor metastasis from other parts of the body.

 

The most common forms of metastasis are from lung cancer, breast cancer, skin melanoma, and kidney cancer. Generally, a cancer patient has a 15-30% chance of metastasis in the brain. Usually metastatic brain tumors occur in the cerebral hemispheres or in the cerebellum.

Metastatic brain tumors or malignant brain tumors and their symptoms.

The symptoms of a metastatic tumor in the brain or a malignant tumor in the brain usually include:

  • headache
  • dizziness and nausea
  • weakness in the upper or lower extremities
  • epileptic seizures
  • difficulty in speaking or loss of vision
  • Depression, passivity, etc.

Metastatic brain tumors or malignant brain tumors - Therapeutic Approach

The therapeutic approach adopted usually depends on the medical history (eg, initial form of cancer) and the age of the patient as well as the damage caused by the metastatic tumor itself.

Usually, the following are recommended:

  • Surgical removal of the tumor – usually is recommended when there are up to three metastases and the primary cause (eg, initial cancer) is under control.
  • Stereotactic biopsy – usually occurs when the primary outbreak of cancer is unknown.
  • Radiosurgery – usually recommended to patients with a small size of metastases, <3 cm.
  • Radiation therapy – recommended to patients who are unable to accept surgery, have scattered metastases throughout the brain or as a stage of post-operative completion of treatment.
  • Pharmaceutical treatment, etc.