ABSTRACT
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. In the UK in 2000 there were 40 707 new patients diagnosed with breast cancer with a 5-year survival rate of 77%.1
In autopsy studies central nervous system (CNS) metastases are reported to occur in 30% of patients.2 These lesions can cause severe functional deficits, which may be irreversible, even with adequate treatment. As the systemic treatment for metastatic breast cancer has improved markedly over recent years, survival is more likely to be influenced by effective treatment of CNS metastases than in other solid tumours.3,4
Therefore, these patients should be evaluated and treated rapidly to improve the functional outcome. Management of CNS metastases can be divided by their anatomical location. This chapter deals with the neurological management of brain and spinal metastasis as well as the major technical advances in spinal reconstruction necessary for tumour control.
