Brain metastases from cholangiocarcinoma: a first case series in Thailand.
BACKGROUND
Brain metastasis from cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a rare but fatal event. To the best of our knowledge, only few cases have been reported. Herein, we report the incident rate and a first case series of brain metastases from CCA.


METHODS
Between January 2006 and December 2010 5,164 patients were treated at Srinagarind hospital, Khon Kaen University; of those, 8 patients developed brain metastasis. Here we reviewed clinical data and survival times.


RESULTS
The incident rate of brain metastases from CCA was 0.15%. The median age of the patients was 60 years. Tumor subtypes were intrahepatic in 6 and hilar in 2 patients. All suffered from symptoms related to brain metastasis. Three patients were treated with whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT), one of whom also underwent surgery. The median survival after the diagnosis of brain metastasis was 9.5 weeks (1-28 weeks). The longest survival observed in a patient in RPA class I with two brain lesions and received WBRT.


CONCLUSIONS
This is a first case series of brain metastases from CCA with the incident rate of 0.15%. It is rare and associated with short survival time.
Medical Oncology Division, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand. jarich@kku.ac.th
Jarin
J
Chindaprasirt
Aumkhae
A
Sookprasert
Kittisak
K
Sawanyawisuth
Panita
P
Limpawattana
Somsak
S
Tiamkao
D000368:Aged; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic / Q000473:pathology*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D016371:Cranial Irradiation; D003399:Craniotomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate; D013785:Thailand