[Brain metastases and their treatment]

Brain metastases will occur in about 25% of patients with cancer. Lung and breast cancer are the most frequent primary cancers (50%). The treatment of brain metastases is palliative. Solitary brain metastasis should be strongly considered for surgical extirpation followed by whole brain radiotherapy. Patients with poor systemic performance status and/or multiple metastases are candidates for whole brain radiotherapy. The role of chemotherapy and focal radiotherapy in the management of brain metastases is still being evaluated. Appropriate use of therapeutic modalities for brain metastases will ameliorate symptoms in most patients and usually increase survival and enhance the quality of the patient's life.