Neurological problems in advanced cancer

Abstract

Neurological complications are frequent in patients with advanced cancer. This chapter discusses a variety of neurological problems found in advanced cancer together with their clinical aspects and management, including some suggested regimens for pharmacological therapy. Complications discussed include intracranial hypertension, seizures in patients with advanced illness (including a suggested algorithm for the management of status epilepticus), delirium, brain metastases, spinal cord compression (including an algorithm for the evaluation of back pain), leptomeningeal metastases, base of the skull and cranial nerve syndromes, neurological side effects of drugs used in oncology and palliative care, and paraneoplastic neurological syndromes.