Carmustine Implants in Treating Patients With Brain Metastases

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