[Surgery for metastatic brain and spinal tumor from colorectal cancer]

The results of invasive treatment of brain metastasis of colorectal cancer (6 cases) and spinal metastasis of colorectal cancer (3 cases), aimed at alleviating the symptoms, were analyzed. In all 6 cases of brain metastasis, metastases were also found in some other remote sites (often the liver). The average period from resection of the primary lesion to resection of the brain metastasis was 3 years and 3 months for this group. Of these 6 cases, 5 had cerebral metastasis and 1 had cerebellar metastasis. The preoperative performance status (PS) was 1 in 1 case and 2 in 5 cases. After surgery, the PS improved in all 6 cases, allowing all the patients to be discharged. There was only one patient whose death was attributable to brain metastasis. In all 3 cases of spinal metastasis, metastases were also detected in the lungs or liver (synchronous in) 1 case, metachronous in 2 cases). The preoperative PS was 2 in 1 case, 3 in 1 case and 4 in 1 case. After surgery, the PS improved in 2 cases. One of the three patients is still alive.

The results of this study suggest that it is not impossible to improve the QOL of patients with brain or spinal metastasis of cancer by surgical intervention, although the response may vary from patient to patient.