Tumours of the central nervous system

Surgery plays a key role in the management of brain tumours. The prognosis for patients following many brain tumour diagnoses is poor, but without the input of the surgical team, the outcomes would be bleaker. Innovations in understanding of the molecular biology of brain tumours may identify new targets for future therapies, but surgery is likely to retain a role in reducing the bulk of the tumour mass and in tissue diagnosis. In this article, we will examine recent updates in understanding of brain tumour biology and the implications for management. We will look at the latest research on brain tumour diagnosis, and then focus on management of the three most common brain tumours – glioma, meningiomas and cerebral metastases. We examine the surgical approach and adjuncts that should be employed to optimize patient outcomes.