Neurocognitive aspects of brain metastasis

Jeffrey S. Wefel, Michael W. Parsons, Vinai Gondi, Paul D. Brown

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

22 Scopus citations

Abstract

Brain metastases are common, occurring in approximately 20% of cancer patients. One of the biggest concerns for these patients and their families is neurocognitive decline. Neurocognitive issues in this patient population are complex and many patients have neurocognitive impairment due to systemic therapies even before they develop brain metastases. The development of brain metastases as well as the treatment of these tumors can cause decline in neurocognitive function. Diffuse treatments such as whole-brain radiotherapy are more frequently associated with neurocognitive decline than focal interventions such as radiosurgery, surgical resection, and implantable chemotherapy wafers. For patients with brain metastases treatment decisions require a multidisciplinary approach, balancing many factors including the neurocognitive impact of treatment and the disease process itself. Finally, to continue to advance the field there needs to be continued utilization, both off and on clinical trial, of performance-based clinical outcome assessments (i.e., neurocognitive tests) to objectively assess and measure the neurocognitive outcomes of these patients.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationHandbook of Clinical Neurology
PublisherElsevier B.V.
Pages155-165
Number of pages11
DOIs
StatePublished - 2018

Publication series

NameHandbook of Clinical Neurology
Volume149
ISSN (Print)0072-9752
ISSN (Electronic)2212-4152

Keywords

  • brain metastasis
  • clinical outcome assessment
  • memory
  • neurocognitive function
  • radiation
  • systemic therapy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neurology
  • Clinical Neurology

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