DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Supratentorial brain metastases for which surgery is recommended

  • Solitary, unilateral, intracranial mass consistent with metastasis on MRI scan OR
  • Two brain lesions consistent with metastases on MRI scan
  • Lesions must be accessible through a single craniotomy
  • Metastatic lesions clearly distinct from tumor bed of any benign lesions
  • Intraoperative frozen section diagnosis of metastatic tumor from CNS lesion
• No prior malignant intracranial neoplasm
• No lesion(s) in the brainstem
• No open communication of the resection cavity with the ventricle following resection

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Performance status

• Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy

• At least 3 months

Hematopoietic

• No concurrent hematologic disorders

Hepatic

• No concurrent hepatic disease

Renal

• No concurrent renal disease

Cardiovascular

• No concurrent cardiac disease

Pulmonary

• No concurrent pulmonary disorders

Other

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• Mini mental score at least 15
• No known hypersensitivity to carmustine or Gliadel wafers
• No other serious concurrent medical illness or infection

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• Not specified

Chemotherapy

• Not specified

Endocrine therapy

• Not specified

Radiotherapy

• No prior cranial irradiation

Surgery

• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior surgery involving brain metastases or primary brain tumor(s) (except for benign intracranial lesions such as pituitary adenoma, meningioma, or schwannoma)

Other

• Concurrent systemic therapy allowed