Intracranial metastases from carcinoma of the cervix

Uterine cervix carcinoma usually spread by local extension and through the lymphatics to the retroperitoneal lymph nodes. Brain metastases are extremely rare in the course, are usually seen late and have poor prognosis. We report a 49-year-old woman with squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix who developed right parieto-occipital lobe metastasis after three years of treatment of the primary disease. The presenting symptoms of the metastatic disease were hemiparesis, headache, and vomiting. Her hemiparesis improved after surgical excision of the metastasis. Treatment in these cases is mainly palliative but may offer symptomatic relief and improvement in the quality of life.