Brain metastases result from the spread of cancer antibodies from the original lesion. Oncogen cells travel through the circulatory and lymphatic systems.
Metastasis is characterized by the appearance of the following symptoms:
- pain in the head;
- the appearance of seizures of epileptic etiology;
- increased pressure inside the skull;
- body intoxication, fainting.
For differential diagnosis of related conditions, tomographic diagnostics is performed.
Symptoms
The manifestation of the disease depends on where it formed. Metastases should be divided into brain and bone marrow.
Symptoms of metastases in the brain depend on the location of the focus, and on the rate of spread of cancer:
- If the formation occurred in the area where the nerve endings of the eye are located, then the patient has a visual impairment.
- One of the main symptoms is pain in the head. Initially, it may appear with an uncomfortable position of the head. But over time, the tumor grows, painful sensations manifest themselves more vividly and alarm the patient regularly.
- Disturbed motor activity.
- The gait becomes uneven, the effect on the intellect takes place, and the very behavior of the person changes.
- There may be seizures or signs of epilepsy.
- With multiple metastases, dementia develops.
- The patient may experience vomiting without any signs of nausea. This usually happens in the morning.
- If the frontal region is affected, then the activity of the musculoskeletal system is disrupted, the patient manifests aggression.
- If the tissue swells around a malignant tumor near the temple, the patient's internal cranial pressure rises, headache, dizziness, vomiting appear, double vision occurs, the patient experiences an oppressed state.
Mechanisms of brain metastasis
Metastasis is a very complex process that goes through several stages of development. First, cancer cells need to attach to the connective tissue, not far from the large veins and arteries, in order to actively feed and spread their influence throughout the body.
The second stage is the disclosure of pathological foci. They begin to grow actively, filling a free space and displacing healthy radicals. Some destructive elements find additional places of subsidence and attachment (according to the principle of daughter and maternal cells).
The third stage is considered the final - it is marked by a rapid, intensive growth of the neoplasm, a violation of many mental functions, a malfunction in the work of other internal organs.
After overcoming the third, final stage, the patient is diagnosed with “4th stage of brain cancer”, in which almost nothing can be done. Even with a favorable surgical outcome, the degree of central nervous system damage is very high. The likelihood that intellectual abilities will return in full is zero. The residual phenomenon of a deep lesion is a persistent neurological profile, malfunctioning of many internal organs, short life expectancy.
Diagnostics
In order to identify metastases, conduct such studies:
- Magnetic resonance imaging, therapy.
- CT scan of the brain.
- Take a cerebrospinal fluid test.
- Echoencephalography.
- Electroencephalography, which helps to determine abnormalities.
- A biopsy is performed with a secondary neoplasm by examining the cells in the tissues. In primary tumors, the metastases of which spread to the head, it also helps to investigate the process. If there is suspicion of metastases in the spinal cord, then resort to osteodensitometry and skeletal scintigraphy.
- Pathopsychological examinations that help to analyze whether there are problems during conversation, writing and so on.
- Neuroophthalmological studies that show if there are changes in the fundus.
- Otoneurological examinations of the auditory organ, vestibular apparatus and also on taste and smell sensors.
- Computed tomography, during which fluid is injected into the brain tissue.
- Laboratory analysis of cerebrospinal fluid, where cerebrospinal fluid is examined.
Drug therapy
Drug treatment of brain metastases is combined with the classical methods of therapy - chemical, radiation.
Depending on the formation of pathological focal changes, the patient may be prescribed:
- Hormone-active drugs that stabilize the production of biological agents and support the work of higher nervous activity.
- Antitumor antimetabolites. A cancerous tumor is a clot of connective tissue that is nourished by free healthy brain cells. To interrupt this process, antimetabolites are prescribed, drugs that stop the blood supply to tumors and their growth. The most common of them are “Ftorafur”, “Methotrexate”, “Hydroxyurea”, “Xeloda”.
- Molecular blockers of a new sample. Almost every year, pharmaceutical companies release more and more new means for stopping cancer cells. And one of them is molecular blockers. These drugs can stop the growth of small-point neoplasms for a fairly long period of human life.
Chinese drugs
Treatment with Chinese drugs is advisable for people who have a huge number of contraindications to the use of anticancer drugs. Chinese drugs made using natural ingredients help get rid of the multiple symptoms of brain cancer. The list of approved substances is as follows: Fufang Banmao, Zhuhe San Jie Pian, Xiaoayping, or Anti-Cancer. These drugs are quite effective in metastases of brain melanoma.
Surgery
Delaying treatment for lesions of brain regions with malignant tumors leads to disease progression and death. Surgical treatment is carried out only in combination with chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Application of radiosurgical removal methods
Gamma Knife. Gamma Knife Surgery is a modern way to remove areas affected by metastases. The size of the tumor with brain metastases can be from four to five centimeters, and the number of lesions from three to six, the use of this method contributes to the deep and thorough removal of all formations.
Surgical intervention is carried out in the presence of a single focus of localization, while the entire part of the neoplasm is subject to removal, which helps prevent the reappearance of the tumor and will significantly alleviate the patient's pathogenic symptoms.
Surgery consists in the introduction through the artery of preparations containing a substance that prevents the appearance and development of malignant neoplasms, and then the introduction of implants with a radionuclide into the thickness of the tissue. This avoids craniotomy for manipulation.
Radiation therapy for brain metastases
Radiation therapy in cancer centers has gained great popularity and is an effective method of struggle for the life and health of the patient.
Radiation therapy for metastases is used for a small tumor (up to twenty millimeters) and located in such a way that there is a chance to bring a linear accelerator without causing any harm by the radiation of good tissue. The ionizing beam can destroy the cancer cell metastasis, but also provide maximum protection for a healthy cell. Irradiation of a cancer tumor with brain metastasis can last five to thirty-five times with a duration of half an hour. With this particular radiation, it is necessary to ensure absolute immobility of the patient, for this purpose an individual fixing device (thermoplastic mask and vacuum mattress) is used. In the combined treatment, cyberknives are used for metastasis, radiation IMRT therapy using Electa Synergy linear accelerators.
The general irradiation rate is thirty to thirty-five dimensions (fourteen fractions are used - two and a half dimensions or three whole dimensions - ten fractions). This method helps to reduce the likelihood of radiation complications.
Prognosis for brain metastases
A patient who has a tumor in the brain, and his family are concerned about how long a person can live with such a disease.
This question is quite difficult to answer, since the answer depends on many factors, such as:
- The age of the patient.
- Type of tumor disease.
- How many foci of infection and so on.
If the brain stem, cerebellum is affected, then the result for such a patient is disappointing. If there are many foci and the tumor is aggressive, then the life expectancy for metastases in the brain is two weeks. If metastases were eliminated, then the chance for life is given much more than in the first case.