Suspected brain / CNS cancer

Definition/Description

There is no 2WW Brain/ CNS Cancer Service in York.  The nearest service providers are Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (0113 2432 799) or Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trusts (01482 875 875). 

Red Flag Symptoms

  • Subacute, progressive focal neurological deficit
  • Unexplained cognitive impairment
  • behavioural disturbances
  • changes in personality
     
  • New onset seizure(s) 
  • Headache (recent onset) with features of raised intracranial pressure, including:
    • vomiting
    • drowsiness
    • loss of consciousness
    • change of personality or memory)
       
  • Abnormal MRI/CT showing suspected tumour of brain or CNS 

Guidelines on Management

Refer patient to local service.

The nearest service providers are Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (0113 2432 799) or Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trusts (01482 875 875). 

Referral Criteria/Information

Pathway does not have a referral form.

1. For patients with the following symptoms:

  • Subacute, progressive focal neurological deficit                                                             
  • Unexplained cognitive impairment or behavioural disturbances or changes in personality  
Phone the on-call duty radiologist to consider an urgent direct access MRI scan of the brain (to be performed within 2 weeks), or CT scan if MRI is contraindicated.

 

2. For patients with the following symptoms:

  • New onset seizure(s)
  • Headache (recent onset) with features of raised intracranial pressure (including vomiting, drowsiness, loss of consciousness, change of personality or memory)
Consider acute admission for investigations

 

3. For patients where imaging has shown the following: 

  • Abnormal MRI/CT showing suspected tumour of brain or CNS

Phone the on-call neurosurgical registrar on the same day of receipt of result

Associated Policies

There are no associated policies.

Specialties

Urgent Suspected Cancer York

Places covered by

  • Vale of York

Hospital Trusts

  • York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals
Author:
Date created: 20/08/2025, 12:58
Last modified: 20/08/2025, 13:03
Date of review: