Metastases

A metastasis is a tumor that has spread from another primary tumor in a remote part of the body.

Cancer research has yielded novel chemotherapeutics that were shown to significantly prolong survival time of cancer patients. But most of these drugs are not able to pass the blood-brain-barrier, a physiological barrier around the blood vessel of the brain to protect the brain from external noxious substances.

Treatment

• Microsurgical resection: With the use of advanced operating techniques and high-end technical equipment including neuronavigation, intraoperative imaging and electrophysiological monitoring, the surgical removal of brain tumors constitutes a safe and efficient treatment option. Fluorescent dyes like 5-ALA and Yellow aid the surgeon during the operation by visualizing tumorous tissue. Surgical removal is especially recommended to patients in which the primary tumor responds very well to systematic treatment and who only have one or few surgically accessible metastases in the brain.
• Stereotactic radiosurgery: Smaller metastases can be treated with a precisely targeted dose of radiation, which is delivered to the tumor without damaging the surrounding brain tissue. Prior to the radiation therapy, a head frame will be attached to the patient’s head and a high-resolution CT scan will be performed for the radiotherapists to plan the radiation procedure.

Every neurooncological case is discussed on a weekly basis with a multidisciplinary team that consists of specialized experts from the fields of Neurosurgery, Oncology, Radiotherapy, Neuroradiology and other specialties. This team evaluates each case and determines the best approach for every patient.