Metastatic Brain Tumor

Metastatic brain cancer, also called secondary brain cancer, occurs when cancer spreads to the brain from another part of the body. It’s about ten times more common than primary brain cancer, which starts in the brain.

The stage of your disease will determine your treatment. Your team may recommend surgery, radiation, or some combination of the two. 

Where in the brain do most metastases appear?

• The cerebral cortex. This area is made up of the two large hemispheres of the brain, where high-level functions such as consciousness, memory, language, and sensory perception occur. Most metastatic brain tumors develop in the cerebral cortex.
• The cerebellum. This is the part of the brain that oversees complex voluntary muscle movements. About 15 percent of metastatic brain tumors develop here.
• The brain stem. About 5 percent of metastases develop in the brain stem, where visual coordination, swallowing, and balance are controlled.
• Unknown primary origin. A small number of people develop brain metastases without doctors finding the primary cancer.

Risk Factors
Most of the time, brain metastases start out as cancer in the:

• lungs
• breasts
• colon
• kidneys
• skin, as melanoma