[Analysis of 25 cases of brain metastasis from gynecological cancers].
OBJECTIVE
To discuss the clinical characteristics, treatment and prognostic factors of brain metastasis from gynecological cancers.


METHODS
Clinical records of 25 brain metastasis patients from gynecological cancers admitted from January 1999 to January 2009 were reviewed retrospectively. The curative effects of different treatments were compared. The prognostic factors were determined using the Cox regression model.


RESULTS
There were 14 cases ovarian malignant tumor, 6 cases cervical carcinoma and 5 cases uterine malignant tumor. Seven cases (28%, 7/25) had solitary metastatic lesion in the brain. Extracranial metastases were detected in 18 cases (72%, 18/25). Five patients only received one kind of treatment, and the mean survival time was 4.0 months (0.5 to 9.5 months). Sixteen patients received combined treatment, 3 of them received combined treatment including surgery, and the mean survival time was 8.4 months (4.1 to 13.4 months); 13 of them received chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and the mean survival time was 14.2 months (4.3 to 58.1 months). Four patients received only palliative supportive care, and the survival time was only 0.1 to 1.0 month. The Cox regression model showed that Karnofsky performance status scale, with or without extracranial metastases and the treatment method were the independent prognostic factors of brain metastasis from gynecological cancers (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of brain metastasis from gynecological cancers is low and the prognosis is very poor. Combined treatments may get better effects.
Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
Guang-wen
GW
Yuan
Ling-ying
LY
Wu
Man-ni
MN
Huang
Hong-wen
HW
Yao
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D055815:Young Adult