The Epidemiology of Brain Metastasis

Are melanomas averse to cerebellum? Cerebellar metastases in a surgical series

“…Brain metastases from gastric cancer and prostate cancer, the most common male malignancy, are on the other hand exceedingly rare . Malignant melanoma has the highest relative propensity of all primary cancers to metastasize to the brain . Despite melanomas' well‐known predilection for brain parenchyma , melanoma metastases were rarely encountered in cerebellum in our former surgical series for intracranial metastases.…”

“…However, the distribution of brain metastases cannot be explained by regional blood supply and volume alone . Virtually any systemic cancer has the ability to metastasize to brain parenchyma, but the propensity for developing brain metastases varies greatly among different primary cancer types . In absolute numbers, the most common primary tumors giving rise to brain metastases are lung, breast, malignant melanoma, colorectal, and kidney cancer.…”

“…Location and histology of the primary tumor are prominent predictors of the extent and pattern of intracranial metastasis. Most common primary tumor sites for brain metastases are in the descending order lung, breast, malignant melanoma, colon/rectum, and kidney . Brain metastases from gastric cancer and prostate cancer, the most common male malignancy, are on the other hand exceedingly rare .…”

Diagnosis and Treatment Options for Brain Metastasis of Melanoma

“…One recent study has indicated it may now surpass that of breast carcinoma, most likely a result of increasing rates over time [1]. Of cases with metastasis to the brain, melanoma is the primary tumor for about 5 to 21 percent of these patients [4]. CNS involvement or deficits are the first manifestation of melanoma in 9 to 12 percent of patients [5].…”

A Study of the Metastatic Tumours of the CNS

“…Due to under diagnosis and inaccurate reporting, the incidence rates found in the literature for brain metastases [up to 11 per 100,000 population per year] probably underestimate the true incidence. 1 Autopsy studies revealed that CNS metastases occur in about 25% of patients who die of cancer. Leptomeningeal metastases occur in 4-15% of patients with solid tumours 2 and dural metastases in 8-9% of cancer patients with advanced cancer.…”