ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION Breast cancer is now the most common cancer in the United Kingdom. In 2007, almost 45,700 women were diagnosed with breast cancer. The overall prognosis from breast cancer has improved signifi cantly with a 5-year survival rate of 80% ( 1 ). Metastasis to the central nervous system (CNS) occurs in 14-20% of patients with breast cancer ( 2 ). In autopsy study this ranges from 18% to 30% ( 3 ). Current evidence suggests that the overall incidence of CNS metastasis is on the rise. This has been attributed to the selective destruction of non-brain metastasis by new chemotherapeutic agents. Many of these agents do not effectively cross the blood-brain barrier resulting in the subsequent development of brain metastasis ( 4 ). In this chapter; we have divided the management of CNS metastases according to their anatomical location. We discuss the neurological management, the latest advances in surgical techniques and other modalities of treatment including stereotactic radiosurgery and Cyberknife.
