Skip to Content
800-533-8762
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Health Care Professionals
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
UPMC
  • Find a Doctor
  • Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
      Allergy & Immunology Behavioral & Mental Health Cancer Ear, Nose & Throat Endocrinology Gastroenterology Heart & Vascular Imaging Neurosciences Orthopaedics
      Physical Rehabilitation Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Primary Care Senior Services Sports Medicine Telemedicine Transplant Surgery Walk-In Care Weight Management Women’s Health
      See all Services
    • Services by Region
    • Find a UPMC health care facility close to you quickly by browsing by region.
      UPMC in Western Pa. Western Pa. and New York
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Services
  • Locations
    • Locations by Type
    • Locations by Type
      UPMC hospitals
      Hospitals
      Physical Therapy
      Physical Therapy
      Urgent care
      Walk-In Care
      UPMC Outpatient Centers
      Outpatient Centers
      UPMC Imaging Services
      Imaging
      Community Health Centers
      Community Health Centers
      See All Locations
    • Locations by Region
    • Locations by Region
      UPMC in Southwest Pa. Southwest Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Northwest Pa and Ny. Northwest Pa. & Western N.Y.
      UPMC in West Central Pa. West Central Pa.
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Locations
  • Patients & Visitors
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
      Patients and Visitors Resources Pay a Bill Classes & Events Medical Records Health Library Patient Information
      Patient Portals Privacy Information Shared Decision Making Traveling Patients Visitor Information
      Man uses mobile phone
      Pay a Bill
      Nurse reviews medical chart
      Request Medical Records
  • Patient Portals
  • Find Covid-19 updates
  • Schedule an appointment
  • Request medical records
  • Pay a bill
  • Learn about financial assistance
  • Find classes & events
  • Send a patient an eCard
  • Make a donation
  • Volunteer
  • Read HealthBeat blog
  • Explore UPMC Careers
Skip to Content
UPMC
  • Patient Portals
  • For Patients & Visitors
    • Find a Doctor
    • Locations
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Services
    • More
      • Medical Records
      • Financial Assistance
      • Classes & Events
      • HealthBeat Blog
      • Health Library
  • About UPMC
    • Why UPMC
    • Facts & Stats
    • Supply Chain Management
    • Community Commitment
    • More
      • Financials
      • Support UPMC
      • UPMC Apps
      • UPMC Enterprises
      • UPMC International
  • For Health Care Professionals
    • Physician Information
    • Resources
    • Education & Training
    • Departments
    • Credentialing
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Newsroom
  • UPMC >
  • Our Services >
  • Neurosurgery >
  • ... >
  • Brain >
  • Conditions >
  • Brain Tumors >
  • ​Brain Metastases
Neurosurgery
About Us
Contact Us
Conditions and Treatments
Brain
Conditions
Brain Tumors
Conditions
Our Experts
Treatments
Pituitary and Skull Base Tumors
Neurovascular
Cranial Nerve Disorders
Movement Disorders & Epilepsy
Chiari Malformation
Trauma & Injury
Treatments
Spine Neurosurgery
Neurophysiology
Meet the Neurosurgery Experts
Patient Stories
Classes, Events, & News
Neurocirugia
Neurosurgery
About Us
Contact Us
Conditions and Treatments
Brain
Conditions
Brain Tumors
Conditions
Our Experts
Treatments
Pituitary and Skull Base Tumors
Neurovascular
Cranial Nerve Disorders
Movement Disorders & Epilepsy
Chiari Malformation
Trauma & Injury
Treatments
Spine Neurosurgery
Neurophysiology
Meet the Neurosurgery Experts
Patient Stories
Classes, Events, & News
Neurocirugia

Chat Keywords List

  • cancel or exit: Stops your conversation
  • start over: Restarts your current scenario
  • help: Shows what this bot can do
  • terms: Shows terms of use and privacy statement
  • feedback: Give us feedback
Continue
Chat with UPMC
RESTART
MENU
CLOSE

​Brain Metastases (Metastatic Brain Tumors)

Brain Metastases are cancerous growths spread to the brain from another body part.

Learn about the treatment options for Brain Metastases at the UPMC Pituitary Center of Excellence.

Contact the UPMC Department of Neurosurgery

To make an appointment or learn more:

  • Call us at 1-412-647-3685 or outside the U.S., call 1-877-320-8762.
  • Fill out our UPMC Neurosurgery contact form.
  • Overview
  • Symptoms & Diagnosis
  • Treatment

What are Brain Metastases?

Brain metastases, also called metastatic brain tumors or secondary brain tumors, originate from cancer cells in another part of the body that have spread to the brain from such regions as the lungs or breasts.

Metastatic brain tumors may appear anywhere in the brain, but are most commonly found at the junction of gray matter and white matter.

What is a brain tumor?

A brain tumor is an abnormal growth of tissue within the brain or central spin. These tumors can disrupt proper brain function. Brain tumors cause a wide range of health problems, from headaches, to loss of consciousness, and in some cases, death.

Symptoms of metastatic brain tumors include vomiting, frequent headaches, and changes in personality. Treatments for brain metastases vary, depending on the type and location.

The neurosurgical team at UPMC may recommend a combination of surgical and non-surgical approaches for treating brain metastases:

  • Endoscopic Endonasal Approach (EEA): The preferred surgical treatment for metastases in the skull base is the Endoscopic Endonasal Approach. This innovative, minimally invasive technique uses the nose and nasal cavities as natural corridors to access hard-to-reach or previously inoperable tumors. Benefits of EEA include no incisions to heal, no disfigurement, and faster recovery time.
  • Neuroendoport® surgery: The preferred surgical treatment for metastatic tumors in the ventricles or deep in the substance of the brain is Neuroendoport surgery. This gives surgeons access to the tumor through a dime-size channel. This minimally invasive approach offers benefits such as minimal scarring, fewer side effects and complications, and faster recovery times than with traditional surgery. 
  • Gamma Knife® radiosurgery: The preferred treatment for metastatic brain tumors is often stereotactic radiosurgery using the Gamma Knife. This painless procedure uses hundreds of highly focused radiation beams to target brain tumors and lesions, with no surgical incision.

Diagnosing Brain Metastases

To diagnose brain metastases, your doctor will:

  • Perform a physical exam.
  • Ask you about your symptoms.
  • Order diagnostic tests.

Symptoms of brain metastases

Symptoms may vary, depending on the size and location of the tumor.

Common brain metastases symptoms may include:

  • Frequent headaches
  • Vomiting
  • Loss of appetite
  • Changes in personality
  • Seizures
  • Memory problems

Tests for diagnosing brain metastases

In addition to a physical exam, your doctor may request imaging studies such as MRI or CT scans.

Brain Metastases Treatments

Treatments vary, depending on the type and location of your brain tumor.

The three standard treatments are:

  • Surgery
  • Radiation therapy including stereotactic radiosurgery
  • Chemotherapy

Your doctor may recommend one or a combination of these treatments.

Minimally invasive surgery for brain metastases

Whenever possible, surgeons will remove brain metastases. The type of surgical treatment depends on the size and location of the tumor.

Several minimally invasive surgical options allow UPMC surgeons to access brain metastases that previously were difficult or impossible to reach.

Metastatic tumors in the skull base or upper spine may be approached directly using the Endoscopic Endonasal Approach (EEA). This state-of-the-art, minimally invasive approach allows surgeons to access the tumor through the natural corridor of the nose, without making an open incision. Surgeons then remove the tumor through the nose and nasal cavities.

EEA offers the benefits of no incisions to heal, no disfigurement, and a faster recovery time. If you need complementary treatments, such as radiation, those therapies can begin soon after EEA surgery.

Neuroendoport® surgery offers a minimally invasive option for tumors within the ventricles (fluid spaces) or deep-seated tumors within the substance of the brain. A narrow tube or port allows surgeons to access these tumors through a tiny incision in the scalp, in contrast to traditional brain surgery.

Radiation therapy for brain metastases

Radiation is a common treatment for brain metastases, since surgery isn't always an option.

We deliver radiation therapy:

  • Externally, by directing radiation at the tumor from an outside source.
  • Internally, by placing radioactive material directly in the body near the cancer.
  • Using stereotactic radiosurgery, such as the Gamma Knife®, by sending a concentrated dose of radiation directly to the brain tumor.

Gamma Knife radiosurgery is a painless procedure that uses hundreds of highly focused radiation beams to target tumors and lesions within the brain, with no surgical incision.

As the nation's leading provider of Gamma Knife procedures, UPMC has treated more than 12,000 patients with tumors, vascular malformations, pain, and other functional problems.

Chemotherapy for cancerous brain metastases

Chemotherapy uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells.

Depending on the type and stage of brain cancer, chemotherapy may be taken by mouth, injected, or placed directly into the brain tumor.

Quick Links

  • Patient Stories
  • For Pediatric Patients
  • Legacy of Innovation
UPMC
200 Lothrop Street Pittsburgh, PA 15213

412-647-8762 800-533-8762

Patients And Visitors
  • Find a Doctor
  • Locations
  • Pay a Bill
  • Patient & Visitor Resources
  • Disabilities Resource Center
  • Services
  • Medical Records
  • No Surprises Act
  • Price Transparency
  • Financial Assistance
  • Classes & Events
  • Health Library
Health Care Professionals
  • Physician Information
  • Resources
  • Education & Training
  • Departments
  • Credentialing
Newsroom
  • Newsroom Home
  • Inside Life Changing Medicine Blog
  • News Releases
About
  • Why UPMC
  • Facts & Stats
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Community Commitment
  • Financials
  • Supporting UPMC
  • HealthBeat Blog
  • UPMC Apps
  • UPMC Enterprises
  • UPMC Health Plan
  • UPMC International
  • Nondiscrimination Policy
Life changing is...
Follow UPMC
  • Contact Us
  • Website/Email Terms of Use
  • Medical Advice Disclaimer
  • Privacy Information
  • Active Privacy Alerts
  • Sitemap
© 2025 UPMC I Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences Supplemental content provided by Healthwise, Incorporated. To learn more, visit healthwise.org
Find Care
Providers
Video Visit
Portal Login