Brain metastases: A single institute experience

Background: Brain metastases represent an important cause of morbidity for cancer patients. Its incidence has increased overall overtime as a consequence of improved detection by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, in Indian literature, scant data are available. At this moment, we have analyzed our data from a single tertiary care center in North India. The purpose of the study was to analyze the clinical profile of patients with brain metastases. A retrospective study from a single tertiary care center. Patients and Methods: A retrospective review of records of all patients who were registered in hospital-based cancer registry and developed brain metastases from June 2011 to June 2013 yielded 95 patients for analyses. Results: Majority of cases were seen in the 6^th decade of life. Lung cancer was the most common primary followed by breast. On imaging (computed tomography or MRI), multiple lesions were more common than single. Most of the patients presented with a headache (37.9%). Supratentorial involvement was seen in 87.3% against 12.6% infratentorial involvement. Median time interval from diagnosis of primary and development of brain metastases was 13.8 months. A median survival of only 3 months was seen after development of brain metastases. Conclusion: The present study highlights that brain metastases occur mainly in elderly people with lung being the most common primary malignancy. It is a deadly event with a median survival of only 3 months.