[Cerebral metastases as the first clinical manifestation of cancer]

A review of the case histories over the 10-year period 1969 to 1978 revealed 80 patients with cerebral metastases. Group 1 comprised 41 patients (43.9% carcinoma of the breast, 12.2% malignant melanoma, 9.8% hypernephroma, 9.8% carcinoma of the colon) in whom the primary site had been established before the manifestation of neurological deficit. Group 2 comprised 39 patients (56.4% bronchogenic carcinoma, 10.1% hypernephroma, 20.5% primary malignancy not identifiable) in whom the neurological symptoms due to metastasis had been first manifestation of malignancy. The sex distribution, age distribution, site of metastasis, cerebral symptoms and the time-lag before the diagnosis were analysed and compared with the literature. The patients in group 1 had an average survival time of 9 months, as compared with 7 months in group 2, from the time of the initial symptoms of cerebral metastasis. The survival time was not essentially different whether surgical or radiotherapeutic measures were undertaken.