Brain metastases from epithelial ovarian carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Brain metastases from epithelial ovarian carcinoma are rare. We reviewed our experience to evaluate the results of different treatments and their prognosis. Discussion is based on a review of the literature. METHODS: From 1974 to 1998, eight of 704 patients treated for epithelial ovarian carcinoma at our large cancer center developed brain metastases. The median time before occurrence of brain metastases was 15 months after the diagnosis of the ovarian cancer. Six patients had a single lesion and two had multiple parenchymal lesions. Brain was the only site of disease in one patient, while seven had concomitant dissemination. Seven out of eight patients underwent a treatment for brain metastases. The treatment consisted of either radiotherapy (2 cases), chemotherapy (2 cases), surgery and radiotherapy (1 case), or combined treatment of the three modalities (2 cases). RESULTS: Median survival from diagnosis of brain lesions was 3 months (range 1-12). One patient without treatment died one month later. Survival after complete surgical resection and radiotherapy was 12 months. One patient treated by complete surgical resection followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy is still alive (+ 5 months). The patient who underwent partial surgical resection followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy died 7 months later. Two patients treated by radiotherapy alone died, respectively, 2 and 3 months later. After systemic chemotherapy alone, survival times were 1 and 3 months. Conclusions. The prognosis of patients with brain metastases from ovarian carcinoma is poor. A better outcome might be obtained by a multimodal treatment.