Brain metastases from bladder carcinoma: presentation, treatment and survival

We report the presentation of brain metastases from bladder carcinoma. We investigated the role of whole brain radiation therapy for treating this disease.

Between January 1982 and November 1999, 16 patients with brain metastases from bladder carcinoma were treated at our institution. We reviewed patient and tumor characteristics at the time of the primary diagnosis and the brain metastasis diagnosis. We analyzed treatment results in regard to survival and local metastasis control.

Brain metastases from bladder carcinoma were commonly accompanied by uncontrolled systemic metastases. Multiple brain lesions developed in 14 of the 16 patients. Of the 16 patients 14 received radiation therapy with or without surgery, 1 was treated surgically and 1 did not receive any treatment. The 11 patients treated with whole brain radiation therapy had a median survival of only 2 months (range 0.5 to 11). A patient who received stereotactic radiosurgery survived 12 months after the brain metastasis diagnosis and 2 treated with radiation therapy after surgery survived 12.75 and 2.75 months, respectively (median 7.75). The patient treated with surgery alone survived 1.25 months after the brain metastasis diagnosis and 1 who received no treatment survived 1.75 months. Patients with multiple brain metastases had shorter survival than those with a single metastasis.

Overall survival after brain metastasis development in patients with bladder carcinoma was poor. Although the number of patients in this study was small, results indicate that radiation therapy alone is inadequate treatment. Therefore, when possible, we advocate more effective treatment by combining radiation therapy with other treatment modalities, as recommended in ongoing clinical trials.