Aetiology

• Any cancer can metastasise to the brain but the most common tumours to do so are those arising from:
  • Lung
  • Breast
  • Skin (melanoma)
  • Kidney

Management

• Cerebral oedema surrounding the tumours responds to steroid therapy
• Many systemic therapies for the primary tumour do not cross the blood–brain barrier and therefore do not control brain metastases
• Management options include resection via neurosurgery, stereotactic radiotherapy and whole-brain radiotherapy