[Treatment of brain metastasis from ovarian cancer]

Cancer Radiother. 2003 Jun;7(3):184-6. doi: 10.1016/s1278-3218(03)00020-9.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Systemic metastases from ovarian carcinoma are frequent, but they seldom affect the central nervous system. We present here the case of a patient treated for an ovarian cancer by surgery and chemotherapy. Three months after the end of chemotherapy, the patient developed cerebral metastases from ovarian carcinoma (CMOC) treated by iterative surgery and and whole brain irradiation. As the frequency of solitary cerebral metastasis of ovarian cancer is higher than with other cancers, it is likely that they behave slightly differently. Literature analysis reveals an increase in the incidence of CMOC since the middle of the nineties. CMOC can occur during or after adjuvant chemotherapy and the best management strategies to better define determinants of survival for patients are not well known. It appears that a better outcome of CMOC may be obtained by an aggressive treatment, if possible, including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Taking into account the increase in the incidence of the CMOC and their early occurrence, some authors have proposed a prophylactic brain radiotherapy in patients who receive adjuvant chemotherapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Brain Neoplasms / complications
  • Brain Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Brain Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Brain Neoplasms / therapy*
  • CA-125 Antigen / blood
  • Cisplatin / administration & dosage
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Cranial Irradiation
  • Craniotomy
  • Cystadenoma, Serous / complications
  • Cystadenoma, Serous / diagnosis
  • Cystadenoma, Serous / secondary*
  • Cystadenoma, Serous / therapy*
  • Female
  • France / epidemiology
  • Headache / etiology
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Metrorrhagia / etiology
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Paclitaxel / administration & dosage
  • Prognosis
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • CA-125 Antigen
  • Paclitaxel
  • Cisplatin