Epidemiology of Brain Metastases

Overview

Journal Curr Oncol Rep

Publisher Current Science

Specialty Oncology

Date 2011 Oct 21

PMID 22012633

Citations 583

Authors

Lakshmi Nayak

Eudocia Quant Lee

Patrick Y Wen

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Brain metastases are one of the most common neurologic complications of cancer. The incidence is 9%-17% based on various studies, although the exact incidence is thought to be higher. The incidence is increasing with the availability of improved imaging techniques which aid early diagnosis, and effective systemic treatment regimens which prolong life, thus allowing cancer to disseminate to the brain. Lung cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma are the most frequent to develop brain metastases, and account for 67%-80% of all cancers. Most patients with brain metastases have synchronous extracerebral metastases. Some patients present with no known primary cancer diagnosis. In children, brain metastases are rare; germ cell tumors, sarcomas, and neuroblastoma are the common offenders.

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