ABSTRACT
The past two decades have witnessed remarkable technological advances in imaging, surgical technique and adjuvant therapy for central nervous system (CNS) tumors. In a general sense, these innovative technologies, including the advent of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), image-guided surgery and stereotactic radiosurgery, have all had a far-reaching impact on the overall approach to the management of intracranial tumors. For specific neurosurgical patient populations, such as those patients diagnosed with low grade gliomas or metastatic brain cancer, these advances have translated into significantly improved clinical outcomes. This chapter focuses on the classification, presentation and specific treatment options for the most common intracranial neoplasms, including both intrinsic tumors, or those arising from brain parenchyma (gliomas), as well as extrinsic neoplasms arising from non-neural tissue (e.g. meningiomas, pituitary adenomas). In addition, contemporary management strategies for patients with metastatic tumors to the brain are also discussed.
