Bevacizumab in Reducing CNS Side Effects in Patients Who Have Undergone Radiation Therapy to the Brain for Primary Brain Tumor, Meningioma, or Head and Neck Cancer

Inclusion Criteria:

* No evidence of bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for \>= 2 months after completion of study therapy
* No diarrhea \>= grade 1
* Histologically confirmed primary brain neoplasm, meningioma, or head and neck cancer \[WHO grade 2 or 3 disease--no WHO grade 4 primary brain neoplasms (i.e., glioblastoma or gliosarcoma)\]
* Patients with head and neck cancer must not have any of the following:

  * Evidence of metastatic disease
  * Evidence of tumor invasion to major vessels (e.g., the carotid)
  * History of bleeding related to tumor or radiotherapy during or after completion of radiotherapy
* Must have undergone cranial irradiation
* Must have radiographic evidence to support the diagnosis of radiation necrosis and/or surgical biopsy evidence of necrosis without tumor within the past 2 months
* Must have evidence of progressive neurologic signs or symptoms appropriate to the location of the radiation necrosis
* No abdominal fistula, gastrointestinal perforation, or intra-abdominal abscess within the past 28 days
* No significant traumatic injury within the past 28 days
* No evidence of active CNS hemorrhage
* Karnofsky performance status 60-100%
* No clinically significant cardiovascular disease, including any of the following:

  * Inadequately controlled hypertension (i.e., systolic BP \> 140 mm Hg and/or diastolic BP \> 90 mm Hg despite antihypertensive medication)
  * Large vessel cerebrovascular accident within the past 6 months
  * Myocardial infarction or unstable angina within the past 6 months
* No clinically significant cardiovascular disease, including any of the following:

  * NYHA class II-IV congestive heart failure
  * Serious or inadequately controlled cardiac arrhythmia
  * Significant vascular disease (e.g., aortic aneurysm or history of aortic dissection)
  * Clinically significant peripheral vascular disease
* At least 6 months since prior radiotherapy
* Platelet count \> 75,000/mm\^3
* Granulocyte count \> 1,500/mm\^3
* Creatinine \< 1.0 times ULN
* AST \< 2.5 times ULN
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Prior chemotherapy for tumor allowed
* Prior tyrosine kinase inhibitors of VEGF receptor (VEGFR) allowed
* More than 28 days since prior and no concurrent major surgical procedure or open biopsy
* Concurrent dexamethasone allowed provided patient is on a stable dose for \>= 1 week prior to study entry
* Concurrent full-dose anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin) with PT INR \> 1.5 allowed provided the following criteria are met:

  * In-range INR (usually between 2 and 3) and patient is on a stable dose of oral anticoagulant for 1 week or on a stable dose of low molecular weight heparin
  * No active bleeding or pathological condition that carries a high risk of bleeding
* Concurrent full-dose anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin) with PT INR \> 1.5 allowed provided the following criteria are met: No evidence of serious or nonhealing wound, ulcer, or bone fracture
* No concurrent chemotherapy or tyrosine kinase inhibitors of VEGFR
* No prior bevacizumab
* More than 7 days since prior core biopsy
* History of seizures allowed provided the patient is receiving anticonvulsant therapy
* Hemoglobin \>= 9.0 g/dL
* Bilirubin =\< 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* No other concurrent investigational agents