Medical Management of Patients With Brain Tumors

Meticulous medical management begins at diagnosis of brain tumors and continues through the active treatment course and into either palliative care strategies or management of long-term sequelae of treatment. During the active treatment phase, problems such as vasogenic edema, seizures, and venous thromboembolism predominate, whereas late complications include the continuing risk of infections; sequelae of radiation such as vascular disease, cavernous angiomas, and cognitive decline; and secondary tumors. Attention to symptom palliation is an important part of the neurologist's role throughout the course of a brain tumor patient's illness.