Epidemiology of Brain Metastases

Neurosurg Clin N Am. 2020 Oct;31(4):481-488. doi: 10.1016/j.nec.2020.06.001.

Abstract

Brain metastasis continues to be a devastating complication of systemic malignancy, affecting approximately 20% of all patients suffering from cancer. Despite being a major source of morbidity and mortality for this patient population, a nationwide, systematic mechanism for reporting of brain metastases does not exist. Better understanding the epidemiology of brain metastases will help identify individuals who are at greatest risk of developing them and guide clinicians in selecting patients who are most likely to benefit from brain metastasis surveillance and prophylaxis.

Keywords: Brain metastases; Breast cancer; Epidemiology; Incidence; Lung cancer; Pathophysiology.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Brain / pathology
  • Brain Neoplasms / epidemiology*
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology
  • Humans
  • Registries / statistics & numerical data
  • Risk Factors