Management of Brain Metastases from Solid Tumors

Abstract

Brain metastases (BM) are most common intracranial tumors in adults. Recently, significant progress has been shown in diagnosing, prognosis, and treating patients with BM of various malignant tumors. The treatment decisions must be based on the disease prognosis and include radiation therapy, surgery, systemic antitumor therapy, or a combination thereof. Systemic therapy capable of preventing BM or which affects both intracranial and extracranial disease is of paramount importance in the treatment of BM patients. The purpose of this chapter is to consider important prognostic factors that can determine treatment decisions, review the role of blood-brain barrier (BBB), and systemic anticancer treatment to manage BM from solid tumors.