title: Brain metastasis as an isolated late recurrence in small-cell lung cancer.
abstract: The brain is one of the most common sites of metastasis of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). In this study, we reported 6 cases with isolated brain relapse of SCLC ≥1 year after the completion of the initial treatment for SCLC. Of the 6 patients, 2 had a solitary brain metastasis and 4 had ≥2 brain metastatic sites. The metastases were identified during a regular check-up computed tomography (CT) scan and were successfully treated. The median interval from the initial diagnosis to the development of brain metastasis was 16 months (range, 13-30 months). All patients received whole-brain irradiation and achieved a complete response. Only one patient developed disturbances of the higher cerebral function. The median interval from whole-brain irradiation to death or last follow-up was 33 months (range, 8-90 months). To the best of our knowledge, these are the first reported cases with isolated brain relapse of SCLC. Although a rare finding, clinicians should be alert on the possibility of such recurrence, particularly in patients who refused prophylactic cranial irradiation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kurishima
authors.affiliation: Division of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinsuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Homma
authors.affiliation: Division of Respiratory Medicine, Mito Medical Center, University of Tsukuba, Mito, Ibaraki 10-0015, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kagohashi
authors.affiliation: Division of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.
authors.forename: Kunihiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
authors.affiliation: Division of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.
authors.forename: Mio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kawaguchi
authors.affiliation: Division of Respiratory Medicine, Mito Medical Center, University of Tsukuba, Mito, Ibaraki 10-0015, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Satoh
authors.affiliation: Division of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hizawa
keywords: isolated brain metastasis; relapse; small-cell lung cancer