Central Nervous System Cancers

OverviewIn 2010, an estimated 22,020 new cases of primary brain and other nervous system neoplasms were diagnosed in the United States, 1 and approximately 13,140 deaths occurred from these tumors.The incidence of primary malignant brain tumors has been increasing over the past 30 years, especially in elderly persons. 2 Metastatic disease to the central nervous system (CNS) occurs much more frequently, with an estimated incidence approximately 10 times that of primary brain tumors.Between 20% and 40% of patients with systemic cancer will develop brain metastases.