[Brain metastases in patients with malignant ovarian epithelial tumors]

From September 1983 to September 1994, 23 patients with Central Nervous System (CNS) metastases from ovarian carcinoma were observed in our institution. The mean age at the time of CNS metastases diagnosis was 59 years, the mean interval between diagnosis of ovarian carcinoma and documentation of the CNS involvement was 35 months. All the patients presented neurological symptoms. One patient had meningeal carcinomatosis; 22 presented parenchymal lesions. Nine patients had a single CNS lesion and 13 had multiple metastatic sites. CNS was the only site of disease in 9 patients, while 8 had concomitant extraperitoneal dissemination. Four patients received hormonal treatment with a mean survival (MS) of 3 months; 14 received radiotherapy alone (MS 5.5 months), 5 underwent surgical resection of solitary lesion followed by radiotherapy (MS 17 months). Number of CNS lesions, extent of the disease at time of CNS metastases and the treatment were the factors which significantly affected survival. The prognosis of these patients appears poor, however, early diagnosis followed by multimodal treatment may result in significant palliation an improve overall survival in a selected group of patients.