Primary and metastatic brain tumours in adults: summary of NICE guidance

Abstract

### What you need to know Although primary malignant brain tumours represent only 3% of all cancers, they result in the most life-years lost of any cancer.1 Survival with malignant brain tumours has remained poor despite improvements in diagnosis and management (table 1), and it was believed that survival and quality of life could be improved by standardising care across the country with a guideline. Over 60% of people with primary brain tumours present at and are diagnosed by accident and emergency services rather than by general practitioners or in specialist settings.2 Brain metastases are the most common brain tumour to present in primary care, but other forms of brain cancer are seen. View this table: Table 1 Care requirements for brain tumours by approximate median survival Although brain tumours are usually managed by specialist teams, primary care and non-specialist teams have an important role in patients’ long term care, particularly when it comes to considering the longer term cognitive, physical, and mental health effects of the tumour and its treatment (table 1). This article summarises the most recent …