Some characteristics of brain metastases from gynecological cancers

Abstract

Background: The purpose of the study was to analyze a group of patients with brain metastases from gynecological cancers. Method(s): 17 patients aged 25-64 years (mean age 46.7 years) received surgery for brain metastases in 2005-2016. Result(s): Primary cancer in 8 (47.1%) of 17 patients was ovarian cancer, 5 (29.4%)-uterine cancer, 3 (17.6%)-cervical cancer and 1 (5.9%)-trophoblastoma. A period from the primary diagnosis to the detection of brain metastases ranged from 1 to 60 months: in patients with ovarian cancer-17-44 months (on average 29.1), with uterine cancer-6-23 months (on average 12.4), with cervical cancer-21-60 months (on average 45) and with trophoblastoma-1 month. Multiple metastases (15 foci) were found in 1 patient (5.9%), 2-4 metastases-in 5 (29.4%) patients, 1 metastatic focus-in 11 (64.7%) patients. Most frequent symptoms were headache (52.9%), dizziness (29.4%), limb weakness (29.4%) and fatigue (23.5%). Less frequent symptoms included convul-sions (17.6%), speech disorder (11.7%), unsteady gait (11.7%), loss of consciousness (5.9%), irritability (5.9%), vomiting (5.9%), nausea (5.9%), memory disorders (5.9%) and loss of movement in the left limbs (5.9%). All patients underwent radiotherapy and multicourse chemotherapy after surgical treatment. Conclusion(s): Brain metastases were more frequent in patients with ovarian cancer. The shortest period from the primary tumor diagnosis to the detection of brain metastases was 1 month (the patient with trophoblastoma), while in uterine cancer patients the median period was 12.4 months, in patients with ovarian tumors-29.1 months and in patients with cervical cancer-45 months on average. Patients with suspected brain metastases require further examination and complex treatment if the diagnosis is confirmed.