Long-term survival in an ovarian cancer patient with brain metastases.
BACKGROUND
Central nervous system (CNS) metastases from ovarian adenocarcinoma are uncommon. The long-term prognosis for these patients is poor, with studies reporting a mean survival of less than 12 months.


METHODS
We present a case involving a 57-year-old woman diagnosed and treated for primary ovarian cancer in 1994. She underwent optimal cytoreductive surgery and received adjuvant chemotherapy. In 1996, she was diagnosed with a right cerebellar metastatic lesion, and treated with surgery and whole-brain radiotherapy. She is currently 7 years post-treatment of her brain metastasis without evidence of recurrent disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Brain metastases from primary ovarian cancer are a relatively rare finding. These patients have a poor prognosis, with studies reporting a mean survival of 12 months. However, the patient in this report remains disease-free since her treatment for metastatic disease. Aggressive surgical and radiation treatment for patients with isolated CNS metastases is reasonable.
Gynecologic Oncology Associates, Hoag Memorial Hospital Cancer Center, Newport Beach, CA 92663, USA. bram@gynoncology.com
John P
JP
Micha
Bram H
BH
Goldstein
Jill V
JV
Hunter
Mark A
MA
Rettenmaier
John V
JV
Brown
D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome