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The Epidemiology and Management of Seizures in Patients with Cancer

  • Chapter
Cancer Neurology in Clinical Practice

Abstract

Despite the increasing incidence of brain tumors and a corresponding increase in basic and clinical research, the overall survival of patients with primary or metastatic central nervous system cancer has not changed substantially over the last 20 years (1,2). In these diseases, where cures are rare and symptom management is often the most valuable service the physician can provide, treatment of seizures assumes major importance. Seizures are common in patients with brain tumors, and a single seizure, or even the fear of a seizure, can profoundly impair quality of life. In addition to the potential for injury from seizures, seizures can lead to the forfeiture of driving privileges and employment. Seizures and their sequellae can mimic tumor progression and prompt unwarranted diagnostic interventions. Anticonvulsant therapy and the monitoring which therapy necessitates can be inconvenient and uncomfortable, can produce side effects that mimic or exacerbate disease-related symptoms, and can interfere with therapy for the underlying tumor. For all of these reasons, an understanding of the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and available treatments for patients with brain tumors and seizures is essential.

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Authors
  1. Michael J. Glantz MD
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  2. Keith R. Edwards MD
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, University of Virginia Medical Center, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    David Schiff MD

  2. Center for Neuro-Oncology Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; and Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Patrick Y. Wen MD

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© 2003 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Glantz, M.J., Edwards, K.R. (2003). The Epidemiology and Management of Seizures in Patients with Cancer. In: Schiff, D., Wen, P.Y. (eds) Cancer Neurology in Clinical Practice. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-317-0_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-317-0_2

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-4703-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-317-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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