Secondary Neoplastic Brain Tumors: A 10-Year Single-Center Experience

Objective: Brain metastases (BMs) are the most common intracranial tumors in adults and represent a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with systemic malignancies. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics, surgical management, and outcomes of patients who underwent surgery for brain metastases over a 10-year period and to assess the impact of intraoperative technologies on surgical outcomes.Methods: This retrospective study included patients who underwent surgery for intracranial tumors between 2013 and 2023. Among 513 operated patients, 114 with histopathologically confirmed brain metastases were analyzed. Demographic characteristics, primary tumor origin, diagnostic modalities, lesion number and location, treatment strategies, and postoperative outcomes were evaluated. The impact of intraoperative neuronavigation and intraoperative ultrasound on surgical outcomes and reoperation rates was also analyzed.Results: Of the 513 patients, 114 (22.2%) were diagnosed with brain metastases. The mean age was 59.1 years (range, 31–85), and the male-to-female ratio was 56.2% to 43.8%. The most common primary tumors were lung (52.6%), breast (19.2%), and gastrointestinal cancers (8.8%). Metastases were predominantly infratentorial (57.9%), and solitary lesions were observed in 52.6% of cases. Intraoperative neuronavigation was used in 68.4% of cases, and neuronavigation combined with intraoperative ultrasound was used in 24.5%. Reoperation rates were significantly lower in cases where intraoperative imaging modalities were utilized compared to those without additional intraoperative tools (P