title: [Brain metastases as primary manifestation of non-small cell bronchogenic carcinomas].
abstract: While brain metastases from small cell lung cancer are a familiar problem, the incidence of brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer, and their significance as the first tumor manifestation, has been underestimated. At the University Hospital, Basle, over one year, 7 (approximately 7%) of 102 patients with newly diagnosed non-small cell lung cancer had brain metastases as the first manifestation of systemic cancer. Three of the 7 patients were women with a mean age of 48 years. Initial symptoms were headaches, vertigo and vomiting, which prompted the diagnosis of brain metastases. In only 3 patients was the primary lung cancer diagnosed immediately after diagnosis of the brain metastases, while in the remaining 4 a period of up to 6 months elapsed. Bronchogenic cancer is the most frequent primary in patients presenting with brain metastases. Accordingly, in a patient with brain metastases from an unknown primary, bronchogenic cancer should be considered first and diagnostic tests aimed in that direction. This may obviate an extended and expensive diagnostic workup.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary*; D002283:Carcinoma, Bronchogenic / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014717:Vertigo / Q000209:etiology; D014839:Vomiting / Q000209:etiology
vernacular_title: Hirnmetastasen als Primärmanifestation nicht-kleinzelliger Bronchuskarzinome.