Brain-Only Metastasis and 10-Year Survival after Curative Gastric Cancer Resection: A Case Report

Abstract

Gastric cancer (GC) usually metastasizes to locoregional lymph nodes, the peritoneum causing ascites, or to the liver and lungs but rarely to the brain. Few cases of brain-only GC metastases have been reported, and the prognosis is very poor. We present a case of brain-only metastasis 2 years after curative GC surgery and chemotherapy, who visited the ER due to a headache. The patient underwent operative tumor resection of the brain with additional chemotherapy and is still alive and disease free 10 years after initial curative treatment. This case shows that brain-only metastasis may have a better prognosis than that of systemic metastasis; thus, aggressive treatment with radiotherapy or surgery with chemotherapy may be needed.

Keywords

• gastric cancer
• brain-only metastasis
• brain-blood barrier