ABSTRACT
Primary brain tumours are uncommon and comprise only 1.6 per cent of cancers. Metastatic spread to the brain from primary cancers elsewhere in the body is much more common. The variable behaviour of intracranial tumours depends on site and histology. Some cause problems by their intracranial extension alone (gliomas, meningiomas, pituitary tumours, metastases) while others (such as lymphomas, germ cell tumours and primitive neuroendocrine tumours [PNET]) have a predilection for leptomeningeal spread.
