Ferumoxytol- and Gadolinium-Labeled MRI in Measuring Tumors Before or After Treatment in Patients With Primary or Metastatic Brain Tumors

Inclusion Criteria: * Subjects with radiographically suspected, histologically or cytologically confirmed primary brain tumors or brain metastasis are eligible * Subjects may be enrolled at any point in diagnosis or treatment * Subjects must have had radiographically evaluable or measurable disease with standard magnetic resonance (MR) imaging * Members of all races and ethnic groups will be included * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status =\< 3 (Karnofsky performance status \[KPS\] \>= 30) * Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document, or have a representative able to consent for the subject * Sexually active women of child-bearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; or abstinence) prior to study treatment and for the duration of study treatment; should a female become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately * Subject agrees to complete follow up visit Exclusion Criteria: * Subjects with clinically significant signs of uncal herniation, such as acute pupillary enlargement, rapidly developing motor changes (over hours), or rapidly decreasing level of consciousness * Subjects who have a contraindication for MRI: metal in their bodies (a cardiac pacemaker or other incompatible device), are severely agitated, need monitored anesthesia for scanning, or have an allergy to Gd contrast material * Subjects with known hepatic insufficiency or cirrhosis * History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to ferumoxytol * Subjects with known or suspected iron overload (genetic hemochromatosis or history of multiple transfusions) * Subjects expecting to undergo surgery between the imaging sessions; subjects may undergo surgery at any time before the first, or after the last imaging session; this exclusion only applies to each study visit (3 day scanning session), and does not apply to the time (at least 3 weeks) between each study visit * Uncontrolled concurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements * Pregnant or lactating women are excluded from this study * Inability or unwillingness to undergo the complete series of imaging sessions; inability or unwillingness to complete the one month follow-up * Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive subjects on combination antiretroviral therapy are ineligible * Subjects with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) \< 50 * Subjects with three or more drug allergies from separate drug classes