Cerebral metastases of endometrial carcinoma. Diagnostic and neurosurgical aspects

Abstract

Central nervous system (CNS) involvement by endometrial carcinoma is uncommon. Among 1710 patients registered for brain metastases at our institution between 1990 and 2012, 3 (0.18 %) developed brain metastases. All lesions (1 multiple, 2 single) were contrast enhancing on com- puted tomography scans, and were located in the cerebrum (lobus occipitalis) in 2 cases. The CNS was the only site of detectable disease in 1 patient with recurrent disease. One patient received radiotherapy (survival, 3 months) and two underwent surgical resection of solitary metas- tasis followed by radiotherapy (survival = 3 and 5 months and alive to the present). Prognosis of patients with CNS metastases from endometrial carcinoma appears poor; however, in a selected group of patients early diagnosis followed by multimodal treatment may result in a palliation of the disease.

Keywords

• endometrial carcinoma
• brain metastases
• rare central nervous system tumors