Metastatic brain tumor

Alternative names:

brain tumor - metastatic; brain tumor - secondary; tumor - brain (metastatic)

Definition:

A mass created by growth of abnormal cells in the brain, which occurs when cancerous cells travel to the brain from another location in the body.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Metastatic (secondary) brain tumor occurs when there is a tumor in an area of the body, most commonly the lungs or the breast, and cells from that tumor break off, travel in the bloodstream (metastasize), and lodge in the brain. The tumor cells then begin proliferating in the brain tissue. Tumors may be localized to a small area or invasive (spread to nearby areas). Tumors may directly destroy brain cells or indirectly damage cells from inflammation, compression from growth of the tumor, cerebral edema (brain swelling), and increase in intracranial pressure (the pressure within the skull). Classification of metastatic brain tumors depends on the exact site of the tumor within the brain, type of tissue involved, original location of the tumor, and other factors.

Metastatic brain tumors occur in about one-fourth of all cancers that metastasize (spread through the body). They are uncommon, but are more common than primary brain tumors. They occur in approximately 4 out of 100,000 people.

Specific symptoms, treatment, and prognosis (probable outcome) vary according to the site and type of the tumor, original location of the tumor, and the age and general health of the person.