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Metastatic Disease - Breast Cancer - Case 2

A 47 year-old woman with breast cancer and known brain metastases developed progressive neurological deterioration despite radiation to the brain and additional chemotherapy.

Show the Multiple Lesions

Metastatic Brain Tumor (Breast Cancer): Flair axial MRI images. Note the numerous lesions that are both superficial and deep, with surrounding mass effect. This is the picture of late metastatic disease to the brain.

Metastatic disease from primary tumors elsewhere in the body account for approximately 50% of all brain tumors. Metastases to the brain are nearly always via the blood stream. They are typically found at the junctions between the gray and white matter, which are highly vascular. Metastatic lesions commonly present with focal or focal to generalized seizures or slowly progressive neurological deficits. When the lesions become very large, signs and symptoms of increased intracranial pressure develop (i.e., headache, lethargy, nausea and vomiting). The most common primary tumors that metastasize to the brain are lung and breast. Other tumors may also spread to the brain, including melanoma, lymphoma, GI, and GU cancers. In some cases, it is the metastatic lesion in the brain, and not the primary tumor, that brings the patient to medical attention.


Revised 11/30/06.
Copyrighted 2006. David C Preston