A detailed history and physical should be performed, focusing on symptoms, duration, and intensity. Focused questions about headaches, blurry vision, and nausea should be asked. A complete neurologic examination should be performed. This examination should include assessment of strength, sensation, coordination, reflexes, cerebellar function, proprioception, cranial nerve function, speech, thought, vision, and memory. An ophthalmic examination should be performed to evaluate for papilledema. Additional information including age, performance status, and status of systemic cancer burden should be gathered to understand the disease course and guide future therapeutic intervention.

A head computed tomogram (CT) allows for a quick examination, although fine-slice MR of the brain with contrast is the gold standard for neuroimaging in cases of suspected brain metastases. MR allows for a determination of the number and anatomical location of tumors and degree of associated edema. Basic laboratory assessment including complete blood count, metabolic panel, and liver function test should be performed.

The first step in the management of newly diagnosed brain metastases is the treatment of intracranial edema. Oral or intravenous steroids (such as dexamethasone) are commonly used. A loading dose of 10 mg intravenous (IV) dexamethasone followed by 4 mg IV every six hours is one dosing regimen. After the initial clinical response, which can occur rapidly, the dose may be tapered to avoid many of the adverse effects of long-term high dose steroid administration.

Following the initiation of steroids, definitive management may be initiated. Treatment options include surgical resection (for limited brain metastases in patients with good performance status and surgically accessible lesions), whole-brain radiotherapy, and stereotactic radiosurgery. Whole-brain radiotherapy is given by daily radiotherapy treatments (usual 10 to 15) targeting the whole brain. Radiosurgery is a more precise form of radiotherapy which delivers a large dose only to the area of the brain metastasis, usually in a single fraction. Each of these treatments has distinct advantages as well as a unique side effect profile. A multidisciplinary treatment team of a neurosurgeon, radiation oncologist, and neuro-oncologist should participate in the formulation of the treatment plan together with the patient.

The historical standard in patients with good performance status has been surgical resection. Local recurrence following surgical resection remains high, with one trial recently reporting 12-month freedom from local recurrence of 43% following surgical resection and observation.[4] Local control can be improved with post-operative radiosurgery or whole-brain radiotherapy.[4][5] Postoperative therapy should remain an individualized treatment recommendation, taking into account the number of non-resected metastases, tumor histology, follow up, and patient preference. Whole-brain radiotherapy following surgical resection of brain metastases can increase intracranial control compared to postoperative stereotactic radiosurgery but results in poorer neuro-cognitive outcomes.[5]

For patients either not eligible for surgical resection of brain metastases or who elect for non-surgical therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery offers an excellent option for controlling a limited number of intracranial metastases. Although first used in combination with whole-brain radiotherapy as a way to intensify local treatment, stereotactic radiosurgery is now commonly used as a stand-alone therapy. While ultimate control of brain metastases varies with dose and lesion size[6], lesions less than one centimeter have high local control with single-fraction radiosurgery.[7] For larger lesions, multi-fraction treatments are sometimes employed.[8] Stereotactic radiosurgery is considered standard for patients with one to four brain metastases, but emerging data indicate it may be an acceptable treatment for patients with up to ten brain metastases.[9]

For patients with poor performance status or many brain metastases, the standard of care is whole-brain radiotherapy. Whole-brain radiotherapy provides control of individual brain metastases as well as reduces the risk of failure in the brain at a new site. These benefits must be weighed against its potential neurocognitive side effects which occur for many patients to a varying degree. Emerging data suggest that for patients with extremely poor performance status, whole-brain radiotherapy may have a minimal benefit over steroids alone.[10] Therefore, in the management of brain metastases, treatment decisions will need to be made on an individual patient level, taking in to account the goals of treatment in a particular situation as well as the acceptable side effect profile.

The differential diagnoses of cerebral metastases include:

• Abscess
• Demyelination
• Parasitic infestation
• Primary tumor - glioma/ependymoma

The prognosis of cerebral metastasis depends on several factors including:

• Age of the patient
• Number and size of metastases
• Site of the primary tumor
• The other sites of metastases
• Presence of mass effect
• Radiosensitivity/chemosensitivity of the tumor

• Mass effect
• Brain herniation
• Seizures
• Hydrocephalus
• Spread to surrounding tissue
• Neurological deficit
• Death

The patient should be counseled regarding the diagnosis and prognosis. He/she should be instructed to adhere to the treatment plan and medications.

The management of patients with brain metastases is best done with an interprofessional team that includes a neurosurgeon, an oncologist, neurologist, radiation therapist, palliative care specialist, pain consultant, anesthetist. Most of these patients are frail and have a reduced life expectancy; hence the need for aggressive measures is not warranted. A team approach should discuss the best approach taking into account patient status, comorbidity, and life span. Many of these patients simply benefit from palliation and pain control.[11][12]