Primary and Metastatic Neoplasms of the Brain in Adults

Abstract

Overview Primary brain tumors are uncommon but aggressive neoplasms even when histology is low grade. Secondary, or metastatic, tumors are at least 3 times more common than all primary tumors combined. Diagnosis is easily established by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and surgical resection provides histologic confirmation and decompression; surgery alone may suffice for low‐grade tumors and most extra‐axial tumors such as meningiomas. Treatment of parenchymal brain tumors, primary or metastatic, often requires a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, which may improve patient function and control disease but rarely achieves cure.