Central nervous system lesions and advanced ovarian cancer

Over the past 5 years we have seen seven cases of central nervous system tumors in patients with advanced or recurrent ovarian carcinoma. These have ranged in location from the conus medullaris to the brain and have varied in time of occurrence from the time of cancer diagnosis to 63 months following surgery. A diagnosis of metastatic ovarian carcinoma was established in six of the cases, while one patient had a second primary malignancy. All cases had prodromal and localizing neurologic symptoms which led to the suspicion of central nervous system involvement. The critical diagnostic studies were myelography and computed tomography of the brain and spine. We have reviewed our approach to diagnosis and therapy.