[Brain metastases. Possibilities and limits of treatment]

The objective of the treatment of brain metastases is not merely to control the disease, but also to preserve an acceptable quality of life by keeping neurological symptoms in abeyance for as long as possible. In most cases, symptoms may be due to considerable perifocal edema. This is responsive to treatment with steroids, and these are therefore given to all patients. Specific treatment regimens include microsurgical removal of metastatic lesions, radiosurgery, irradiation of the brain, and chemotherapy. The choice of the treatment modality is dictated by the general state of health of the patient, the location and size of the metastases, the number of such lesions, and systemic involvement.