Bone and soft tissue malignancies account for a small portion of brain metastases. In this review, we characterize their incidence, treatments, and prognosis. Most of the data in the literature is based on case reports and small case series. Less than 5% of brain metastases are from bone and soft tissue sarcomas, occurring most commonly in Ewing's sarcoma, malignant fibrous tumors, and osteosarcoma. Mean interval from initial cancer diagnosis to brain metastasis is in the range of 20–30 months, with most being detected before 24 months (osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, chordoma, angiosarcoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma), some at 24–36 months (malignant fibrous tumors, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors, and alveolar soft part sarcoma), and a few after 36 months (chondrosarcoma and liposarcoma). Overall mean survival ranges between 7 and 16 months, with the majority surviving < 12 months (Ewing's sarcoma, liposarcoma, malignant fibrous tumors, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors, angiosarcoma and chordomas). Management is heterogeneous involving surgery, radiosurgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. While a survival advantage may exist for those given aggressive treatment involving surgical resection, such patients tended to have a favorable preoperative performance status and minimal systemic disease.

Extraventricular neurocytomas (EVNs) are rare neoplasms with many similar morphologic features compared with central neurocytomas. EVNs have been reported in a variety of locations and mainly occur within the cerebral hemispheres. These lesions display wide variability in morphologic features, cellularity, and proliferation rates. In addition, given their aggressive biological nature and tendencies to affect eloquent areas, EVNs are associated with a poorer prognosis. The epidemiology of these rare tumors is not definitively known, and effective treatment strategies have not been developed. This article reviews these tumors, including their epidemiology, clinical presentation, locations, radiological findings, treatment options, and prognosis.

Spinal decompression is associated with longer hospital stays, more complications, higher costs, and more non-routine discharges when compared to discectomy. The data supports the disparate nature of these disease processes and elucidates basic clinical trends in uncommon spinal disorders affecting children.