Managing Brain Lesions in Gynecological Cancers: A Case Series (original) (raw)
Related papers
Brain metastases from gynecological cancers: factors that affect overall survival
Technology in cancer research & treatment, 2002
We retrospectively reviewed factors that affected overall survival for patients with gynecological cancers that had metastasized to the brain. Between January 1985 to November 1999, we treated 25 patients with brain metastases from gynecological malignancies (cervix n=6, endometrium n=10, and ovary n=9). Various patient and tumor characteristics were identified and analyzed for their significance. Median age was 46 years old (range, 37-78 years) with the majority of tumors being adenocarcinoma (20/25 patients). The treatment consisted of whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) in 11 patients, focal therapy (surgery and/or stereotactic radiosurgery [SRS]) in 6 patients, and combination therapy (WBRT and surgery and/or SRS) in 8 patients and resulted in median survivals of 6 months, 7 months and 11 months, respectively. Overall median survival was 7.3 months (range, 1 to 88 months). Cause of death was systemic in 9, neurologic in 8 and progression of primary in 2. Those with single lesio...
Brain Metastases From Gynecologic Malignancies
American Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2020
Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence, clinicopathologic characteristics, management, and outcomes of patients with brain metastasis (BM) from gynecologic malignancies in a large hospital-based database. Materials and Methods: The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was accessed and patients with ovarian, uterine, or cervical cancer and BM were identified. We identified those who received radiation therapy (RT) as whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT) or stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). Kaplan-Meier curves were generated to determine median overall survival (OS) and compared with the log-rank test. Results: A total of 853 patients with BM were identified. The rate of BMs upon diagnosis was 0.4% (211/57,160) for patients with cervical cancer, 0.2% (498/243,785) for patients with uterine, and 0.2% (144/92,301) for ovarian malignancies. Only 30.4% had isolated BM, while 52.2% had lung metastasis. Approximately half of the patients (50.1%) received chemotherapy, while brain RT was administered to 324 (38%) patients. Among patients who received brain RT, only 60 (18.5%) had SRS, while 264 (81.5%) had WBRT. Patients who underwent SRS had a better survival (n = 47, median OS = 9 mo) than those who received WBRT (n = 201, median OS = 4.73 mo, P = 0.018), or those who did not receive any brain RT (n = 370, median OS = 4.01 mo, P = 0.007). Conclusions: The incidence of BM among patients with gynecologic malignancies is rare and associated with poor survival. For select patients, SRS may be associated with prolonged survival.
2012
To present 12 gynecologic cancer cases with brain metastasis and a discussion of the relevant literature. Gynecologic malignancy is the second most common cancer in elderly women, following breast cancer. Th ese cancers usually spread locally at fi rst, and common distant metastatic sites are the lungs, liver, spleen, and distant lymph nodes. Th e brain is not a usual site of metastatic involvement. Materials and methods: Th e study included 12 cases with various gynecologic malignancies that were retrospectively analyzed. Th erapeutic modalities, survival, and time between initial surgery and brain metastasis were recorded. Results: Th e mean survival was 41.4 months in 6 patients with ovarian cancer versus 27.7 months in those with other gynecological cancers. At the time of brain metastasis, the CA-125 level was elevated in all of the patients, except one that had cervical cancer. Th e mean CA-125 level was 202 IU mL-1. Th ere were no diff erences in the mean overall survival between the patients that underwent surgical resection and those that received medical treatment. Conclusion: Brain metastasis can occur in all gynecologic cancers and has a poor prognosis, despite multimodal treatment.
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2016
Objective: Brain Metastasis (BM) from primary gynecologic cancers is a rare entity. The advances and successes in the treatment of primary gynecologic malignancies, have led to prolonged survival and, a higher incidence of BM. This study aims to report the experience at our institution in managing these patients, and provide possible data points that may be essential to note as prognostic factors, and see if our findings are consistent with the literature in this subject. We also aim to provide a brief literature review of patients with gynecologic cancers and BM. Methods: This is a small single institution retrospective study of 23 patients with a gynecologic malignancy and BM, identified between the years 2007-2015. Data were collected on variables including patient demographics, disease and treatment. Results: The median overall survival from the primary diagnosis was 28 months. Median time from diagnosis of BM to death was 9 months. Conclusion: The outcomes in our study are similar to what is stated in the current literature with regard to BM from gynecologic malignancies. Our literature search also revealed that the molecular analysis and treatment of the primary tumor remain important to prevent BMs. The tendency of tumors to metastasize varies for one tumor type to another for the same type of tumor. The tendency to develop BM may not only depend on risk factors such as stage, grade, and histology, but also on the genetic profile of the primary tumor. The study suggests that multimodal treatment of BM has better outcomes in managing BM from gynecologic cancers.
International Journal of Gynecological Cancer, 2008
Central nervous system metastasis from gynecological malignancy is a rare phenomenon that has been described in the past 30 years. The objective of this study is to analyze the treatment modalities and prognostic factors for brain metastases from gynecological tumors that predict prolonged survival. A retrospective chart and pathology review of 47 patients diagnosed with a gynecological tumor with brain metastasis in 1994–2004 was performed. Thirty patients had undergone initial diagnosis and treatment at our institution, and 17 patients were referred following primary treatment at an outside institution. Adjusted Chi-square, Kaplan–Meier survival estimates, log-rank tests, and Cox regression analysis were utilized for statistical analysis of the total cohort. Of the 3146 patients with newly diagnosed gynecological cancer in this 10-year period, 30 developed brain metastasis demonstrating an incidence of 0.95%. Overall median survival from the time of diagnosis of brain metastasis w...
Long-term survival in a patient with brain metastases preceding the diagnosis of endometrial cancer
Journal of Neurosurgery, 2001
✓ Only five patients found to have brain metastasis preceding the diagnosis of endometrial cancer have been reported in the literature, and none of these survived beyond 38 months. The authors report on two patients with primary endometrial cancer who initially presented with cerebral metastasis. One of these patients died of disease 15 months after diagnosis. The other patient is still alive, with no evidence of disease, 171 months after she underwent radiosurgery for a solitary brain metastasis, aggressive cytoreductive abdominal and pelvic surgery, and doxorubicin-based chemotherapy. To the best of their knowledge, the authors believe that no similar observation has been made for any primary gynecological neoplasm, including endometrial, ovarian, or cervical cancer. This is the first report documenting that survival beyond one decade may be achieved after intensive multimodal therapy in selected patients in whom a solitary brain metastasis has been found before diagnosis of endom...
Brain metastases from endometrial carcinoma: a retrospective study
Gynecologic Oncology, 2004
Aims and background: Endometrial carcinoma is a rare cause of brain metastases, accounting for less than 1% of all metastatic lesions to the brain. This report aims to review our experience in the treatment of patients with brain metastases from endometrial carcinoma in order to establish the characteristics of these patients and evaluate the results and efficacy of whole-brain radiation therapy as a palliative measure. Methods: Three cases of brain metastases from endometrial carcinoma treated with radiotherapy were identified in the files of the Division of Radiotherapy at the A. Businco Regional Oncological Hospital of Cagliari between 1999 and 2005. Results: All patients had brain metastases as the only sign of systemic disease (a single lesion in 2 patients and 2 lesions in 1 patient). Two patients were classified as RTOG RPA class I and 1 patient as class III. Radiotherapy to the brain was delivered after surgical resection in the first 2 patients and as the only method of palliation in the third patient. The delivered radiation dose was 3000 cGy in 10 fractions over 2 weeks in the postoperative setting and 2000 cGy in 5 fractions over 1 week to the patient treated with irradiation alone. The 2 surgically treated patients are alive and well after 16 and 64 months, respectively. The patient treated with palliative intent died 2 months after irradiation. Conclusions: The combination of surgery and postoperative whole-brain irradiation in selected patients with solitary brain metastases from endometrial carcinoma is an effective method of palliation.
Brain Metastases from Endometrial Carcinoma
Gynecologic Oncology, 1996
This paper will focus on knowledge related to brain metastases from endometrial carcinoma. To date, 115 cases were documented in the literature with an incidence of 0.6% among endometrial carcinoma patients. The endometrial carcinoma was usually an advanced-stage and high-grade tumor. In most patients (∼90%), brain metastasis was detected after diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma with a median interval from diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma to diagnosis of brain metastases of 17 months. Brain metastasis from endometrial carcinoma was either an isolated disease limited to the brain only (∼50%) or part of a disseminated disease involving also other parts of the body (∼50%). Most often, brain metastasis from endometrial carcinoma affected the cerebrum (∼75%) and was solitary (∼60%). The median survival after diagnosis of brain metastases from endometrial carcinoma was 5 months; however, a significantly better survival was achieved with multimodal therapy including surgical resection or stereotactic radiosurgery followed by whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) and/or chemotherapy compared to WBRT alone. It is suggested that brain imaging studies should be considered in the routine follow up of patients with endometrial carcinoma and that the search for a primary source in females with brain metastases of unknown primary should include endometrial biopsy.
Brain Metastases in a Patient with Ovarian Cancer
International Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy, 2017
Brain metastases are associated with a poor prognosis. Depending on the patient's age, functional status, extent of systemic disease, and number of metastases. We report a case of 22-year-old female who presented with 2 months history of headache and vomiting and 1 day history of not communicating, neck stiffness, and generalized body weakness. Patient has been unwell for 2 months after she had collapsed at school 2 months prior complaining of severe headache, she allegedly stroked one month prior with left sided weakness. No history of trauma and seizures but had history of falling and remaining unconscious for unspecified period of time. No history of chronic illness and no family history of malignancies. Brain CT scan and MRI documented multiple lobulated irregularly enhancing brain parenchymal mass lesions of variable sizes, patient was taken to theatre and burr hole for brain tumor biopsy was done and specimen taken for histology which confirmed metastatic carcinoma and the tumor immunoreacted negatively to TTF1 and positively to CK7. Treatment of brain metastasis has evolved over the years from WBRT only for most patients to multimodal therapy including surgical resection, if feasible, followed by Whole brain Radiotherapy (WBRT) and/or chemotherapy.
Brain metastases from epithelial ovarian cancer: overview and optimal management
Anticancer research, 2009
Central nervous system involvement is a rare finding in the management of epithelial ovarian cancer with an incidence between 1-2%. A sharp rise in the incidence has been widely and repeatedly proclaimed for nearly two decades now, but has to be treated with scepticism after a careful review of the current literature. Brain metastases from ovarian cancer are known to be related to a very poor prognosis. Since brain imaging is not part of the routine follow-up care for ovarian cancer patients, and since CA-125--one of the standard tools--cannot be relied upon to detect central nervous system relapse, brain lesions are mostly traced by unspecific neurological symptoms only. Several prognostic factors are still being discussed today. But only a high performance status and the absence of an extra cranial disease at the time of CNS relapse have been accepted throughout the current literature as having a highly significant positive impact on survival. In the past, therapeutic efforts have...