title: Cerebral metastases of cutaneous melanoma.
abstract: Cerebral metastases of cutaneous melanoma carry a very poor prognosis. We report our experience of 31 patients who presented with cerebral metastasis of cutaneous melanoma in a 5-year period between mid-1991 and mid-1996. Cerebral metastases were diagnosed on computerized tomography (CT) scan after patients became symptomatic. The overall median survival in our series was 4 months. Seventeen patients (55%) received treatment with radiotherapy and dexamethasone with resolution of their symptoms, although median survival remained at 4 months. Six patients (19%) had surgery followed by whole brain radiotherapy, with median survival of 5 months. The remaining eight patients received dexamethasone alone. Data from patients surviving less than 2 months and over 6 months suggest that the poor prognostic factors are the presence of more than one cerebral metastasis and additional extracranial metastases.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Dermatology, University of Glasgow, Western Infirmary, UK.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: MacKie
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D015996:Survival Rate; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D003907:Dexamethasone