EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF METASTATIC INTRACRANIAL TUMORS SUBMITTED TO NEUROSURGERY

Abstract

Introduction: Brain metastases are usually due to lung carcinoma, breast cancer and melanoma. The search to hospitals for neurological symptoms without prior knowledge of primary cancer is frequent. Objective: Analyze the epidemiological profile of patients with brain metastases. Method: This is a crosssectional study, with data collection from patients with brain metastases from the neurosurgery service, between 2010 and 2020. Results: The sample consisted of 114 patients and the main primary sites were lung (39 %), non-determined site (25%) and melanoma (15%). Most (61%) were unaware of the primary cancer. The most affected site was the frontal lobe (32%), on the right side (41%), and most lesions were single (68%). Conclusion: The epidemiological analysis corroborated most of the findings in the literature, with the primary pulmonary site and the discovery of metastasis before the primary cancer being the majority of cases.