Supportive management of patients with brain tumors

Management issues for patients with brain tumors include peritumoral edema, symptomatic seizures, venous thromboembolism, headache, pain, fatigue and neuropsychological complaints. Vasogenic edema is typically ameliorated with the lowest dose possible of corticosteroid. Seizures are managed with attention to additional or complicated side effects of antiepileptic drugs and their interactions with chemotherapy, and primary prevention with antiepileptic medications is not recommended. Appropriate treatments for headache, pain, fatigue and neuropsychological complaints are important, but are not yet well standardized. Above all, patients' personal goals regarding their priorities at the end of life have the most importance. PMID: 17939770 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]