| Diagnosis: |
|
Most
patients are usually diagnosed following
the development of signs or symptoms.
|
|
Once
metastases are suspected,
two tests are frequently utilized to determine
if there has been spread of the cancer to
the brain:
|
 |
CT
scan, which uses x-rays to take
pictures of the brain. |
|
Magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI), which
uses magnets to show a detailed picture of
the brain. |
|
|
|
| With
the evidence of a previous diagnosis
of a cancer, in most cases biopsies are
not required. However, in some cancers, patients
may have a high chance of having a second primary
brain cancer. In those who present with only
one abnormal area in the brain, it is important
to make the distinction between brain metastases
and a second primary brain tumor. This can be done
either with a stereotactic biopsy, which
usually requires only an overnight stay, or you
may need a craniotomy which may require a
hospitalization of between one and two weeks if
there are no problems after the surgery.
|
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