Epidemiology of brain metastases and the clinical value of treatment: a narrative review

Purpose: Brain metastases are the most common intracranial tumors in adults and represent an increasingly important clinical challenge. This review summarizes the epidemiology of brain metastases and the clinical value of their early detection and treatment.Current concepts: Brain metastases develop in a substantial proportion of patients with cancer and most commonly arise from lung cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma. However, their true incidence remains difficult to determine.Discussion and conclusion: Although the overall prognosis of patients with brain metastases remains limited, advances in neuroimaging, stereotactic radiosurgery, and targeted systemic therapies have expanded treatment options and improved intracranial disease control. Early detection and active treatment are important for preventing neurological deterioration, preserving functional status, and enabling continued systemic cancer treatment.