Brain metastases

Introduction Intracranial metastases (also known as brain metastases) refer to tumor cells that originate in other parts of the body and are transferred into the brain. The incidence rate is 3.5%-10% of intracranial tumors. See, followed by melanoma, genitourinary tumors and digestive tract tumors, and a considerable number of patients can not find the primary tumor, even if there is brain metastases, the source of the tumor can not be determined after surgery. The age of onset is 40-60 years old, with more men than women.

Cause

Because of the situation caused by the metastasis of the original primary tumor in the head, most of them are caused by the malignant transformation of extracranial tumors. In this case, most of the positive examinations can be made, but once it occurs If it is transferred, it indicates that the disease is aggravated, and the prognosis will not be too ideal. It is necessary to actively control the primary disease.

an examination

Related inspection

Brain CT examination brain MRI examination EEG examination brain nerve examination

1. History: In addition to asking whether there are headaches, vomiting, blurred vision, hemiplegia or sputum, unclear language, etc., should pay attention to the presence or absence of lung, breast, adrenal gland, uterus, gastrointestinal, thyroid and other organs of malignant tumors History and history of surgery.

2. Physical examination: Check the presence of edema and cerebral focal signs, and check the location of primary tumors such as lung, breast, lymph nodes, abdominal cavity and pelvic organs to further determine the source of metastases.

3. CT and MRI scan: CT scan shows single or multiple abnormal density of the brain, the boundary is more clear, large lesions may have low-density necrotic areas or high-density hemorrhage, surrounded by more serious edema. After the enhancement, the physical part is obviously strengthened. MRI is mostly low signal on T1 weighting and high signal on T2 weighting. The enhanced morphological changes are similar to those seen with CT enhancement. MRI is the best diagnostic method for detecting brain metastases.

4. Whole body auxiliary examination: look for the primary focus as much as possible. Through the B-ultrasound, radionuclide scanning, total digestive sputum examination, gastroscope, chest X-ray, chest CT, etc., the thyroid, liver, prostate, pelvic organs, stomach and lungs were examined for tumors.

Differential diagnosis

Brain metastasis can show symptoms and signs at any time in the primary tumor. Generally, lung cancer, melanin and gastric cancer are transferred to the brain at an early stage, while breast cancer, sarcoma and other gastrointestinal tumors are transferred to the brain. Late. The course of brain metastasis is short, and the condition is progressively aggravated after onset. If the tumor is hemorrhagic and necrotic, the condition may suddenly increase, and it may also be a stroke-like illness.

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