Brain metastases from a primary carcinoma of the fallopian tube.

Abstract

Central nervous system involvement by gynecological tumors is considered an uncommon event. Among 47 patients registered for tubal carcinoma in our institution between 1982 and 1994, 3 (6.4%) developed brain metastases. The median age at the time of the diagnosis of central nervous system metastases was 61 years. The median interval between diagnosis of tubal cancer and documentation of brain involvement was 37 months. All deposits were diagnosed as contrast-enhancing, space-occupying lesions on computed tomography scans. Two patients had cerebral metastases, 1 had cerebellar involvement. The central nervous system was the only site of recurrent disease in 1 patient 37 months after diagnosis of tubal carcinoma. The median survival from diagnosis of brain metastases was 1 month. Attention should be paid to the possibility of distant metastases associated with tubal carcinoma in order to treat these patients promptly.