Neurologic complications of breast cancer

Abstract

The metastatic and nonmetastatic neurologic complications that occur in patients with breast cancer are reviewed. Breast cancer is the most common primary tumor in brain metastases, leptomeningeal metastases, and spinal epidural metastases in women. The etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of these and other metastases of the central and peripheral nervous systems are discussed in this chapter. Nonmetastatic neurologic complications are common, and include metabolic disorders, cerebrovascular complications, infections, and paraneoplastic disorders, as well as neurologic complications of treatment. © 2008 Humana Press, Totowa, NJ.