Intracranial dural, calvarial, and skull base metastases

Abstract

Metastatic disease to the intracranial dura, the calvarium, and the skull base is relatively uncommon but presents unique diagnostic and management challenges in the patient with cancer. Modern imaging techniques have facilitated the detection of intracranial tumor deposits, leading to increased incidence. While dural and calvarial metastases often present with nonspecific symptoms, skull base metastases present with distinct clinical syndromes dependent on the local neurovascular structures affected. Intracranial dural metastases can often be confused with meningioma and pose a diagnostic challenge, as well as significant neurologic morbidity, especially in the setting of hemorrhage. Surgical intervention may be helpful in selected patients for symptomatic relief as well as survival benefit. Management paradigms need to take into account the relative risks, benefits, and likely outcomes for each possible modality of treatment. Surgical excision is useful in many patients and in combination with radiation therapy can provide significant palliation. While medical therapy is rarely an initial therapy in these entities, it may be of added benefit dependent on the underlying tumor histology and prior treatment history. Occasionally treatment with curative intent is justified.

Keywords: bone metastasis; dural metastasis; radiosurgery; skull base.