title: Occurrence and clinical features of brain metastasis after chemoradiotherapy for esophageal carcinoma.
abstract: Brain metastasis from esophageal carcinoma has been considered rare and survival following esophageal carcinoma with distant metastasis is poor. The purpose of this report was to clarify cumulative incidence and risk factors for brain metastasis after chemoradiotherapy for esophageal carcinoma, and to consider recommended treatments for brain metastasis from esophageal carcinoma. We reviewed 391 patients treated with chemoradiotherapy. Median age was 65 years. Clinical stages were I, II, III, and IV in 32, 47, 150, and 162 patients, respectively. Brain imaging was performed usually when patients revealed neurological symptoms. The 3-year cumulative incidence of brain metastasis after chemoradiotherapy was 6.6%. There were 4 patients with single metastasis and 8 with multiple metastases. Initial clinical stages were II, III, and IV in 1, 2, and 9 patients, respectively. Histology included squamous cell carcinoma in 10 patients and others in 2 patients. Univariate analysis demonstrated M factor, distant lymph node relapse, and recurrent lung and liver metastasis as significant risk factors of brain metastasis (P < 0.05). Median survival time after diagnosis of brain metastasis was 2.1 months. Brain metastasis was not directly related to cause of mortality. The causes were extracranial tumor deterioration in 8 patients and infection in 4 patients. Brain metastasis may increase in the future with improving survival from esophageal carcinoma. However, considering the poor survival after diagnosis of brain metastasis, short-term palliative therapy for brain metastasis appears preferable to vigorous long-term therapy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiation Oncology, Shizuoka Cancer Center Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Ayae
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kanemoto
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: Hideyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Harada
authors.forename: Hirofumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Asakura
authors.forename: Hirofumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: Kazuhisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Furutani
authors.forename: Narikazu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Boku
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakasu
authors.forename: Tetsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishimura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000556:secondary*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors