Brain metastases Journal Article
| Authors: | Kamar, F. G.; Posner, J. B. |
| Article Title: | Brain metastases |
| Abstract: | Approximately 10% of patients with cancer develop brain metastases. Some evidence indicates that as techniques for treating systemic tumors improve, the incidence of brain metastases, sequestered as they are behind the bloodbrain barrier, is increasing. Although usually appearing late in the course of the disease, a brain metastasis may cause the initial symptoms, before the primary cancer has been identified. The diagnostic and therapeutic approach depends on the number and location of brain lesions and the stage of the cancer. Patients with brain metastases are rarely cured. However, appropriate treatment can improve both the quality and duration of the patient's life. Treatment must be directed not only at the brain metastasis (definitive care), but also at a multitude of other symptoms that plague patients with brain metastases (supportive care). Judicious selection of pharmacologic agents and nonpharmacologic techniques can effectively treat many serious symptoms in patients with brain metastases, but injudicious selection of pharmacologic agents may have side effects and make the patient's quality of life worse. The authors review some aspects of both definitive and supportive care with particular attention to the side effects of some commonly used pharmacologic agents. Copyright © 2010 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc. |
| Keywords: | cancer chemotherapy; antibiotic agent; prednisone; constipation; fatigue; review; cytotoxic agent; drug dose reduction; gastrointestinal hemorrhage; side effect; unspecified side effect; nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; brain tumor; brain neoplasms; antineoplastic agent; cancer diagnosis; cancer incidence; anorexia; neoplasm; unindexed drug; edema; metastasis; pain; sensory neuropathy; thrombocytopenia; haloperidol; methylphenidate; modafinil; opiate; delirium; creatinine; dexamethasone; cancer pain; deep vein thrombosis; pneumocystis pneumonia; practice guideline; coughing; dyspnea; rash; insomnia; patient care; depression; etiracetam; grand mal seizure; proton pump inhibitor; pancreatitis; diabetes mellitus; acne; practice guidelines as topic; brain metastasis; brain disease; urinary frequency; xerostomia; cognition; nausea and vomiting; emotion; behavior; amino acid; antiemetic agent; seizure; headache; cancer epidemiology; osteoporosis; cachexia; kaposi sarcoma; intestine perforation; glaucoma; somnolence; behavior disorder; anticonvulsive agent; corticosteroid; attention; psychosis; hiccup; wound infection; growth factor; catheter infection; hallucination; tremor; amnesia; bone necrosis; candidiasis; mycosis; phenytoin; autonomic neuropathy; valproic acid; aspiration pneumonia; brain edema; blurred vision; venous thromboembolism; anticoagulant agent; tricyclic antidepressant agent; supportive care; serotonin uptake inhibitor; myopathy; seizures; genital system disease; megestrol; optic neuritis; bloating; histamine h2 receptor antagonist; corticosteroids; cannabinoid; misoprostol; sucralfate; sulfamethoxazole; trimethoprim; aseptic meningitis; brain atrophy; cerebellar ataxia; corticosteroid induced myopathy; focal epilepsy; genital burning; hip osteonecrosis; hypersensitivity; increased appetite; lipomatosis; moon face; small intestine perforation |
| Journal Title: | Seminars in Neurology |
| Volume: | 30 |
| Issue: | 3 |
| ISSN: | 0271-8235 |
| Publisher: | Thieme Publishing |
| Date Published: | 2010-01-01 |
| Start Page: | 217 |
| End Page: | 235 |
| Language: | English |
| DOI: | 10.1055/s-0030-1255225 |
| PUBMED: | 20577929 |
| PROVIDER: | scopus |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | --- - "Export Date: 20 April 2011" - "CODEN: SEMNE" - "Source: Scopus" |
