Brain metastasis is very rare in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). We retrospectively analyzed 4494 patients diagnosed with ESCC between 2010 and 2015 at a single institute; 15 of these patients developed brain metastases. All 15 patients had neurologic symptoms and were diagnosed by imaging or biology. Of the 15 patients, 67% had a solitary brain lesion and 73% had lesions larger than 3 cm. After treatment of the brain lesions, including surgery (53%) or stereotactic radiotherapy with or without whole brain radiation (20%), the median progression free survival time and the 2-year overall survival rate calculated from diagnosis of brain metastasis were 14.4 months and 36%, respectively. A graded prognostic assessment (GPA) score > 2.0 was associated with significantly better overall survival. Patients with brain metastases from ESCC achieve good overall survival after appropriate treatment of the brain lesion(s); GPA score may represent a prognostic factor for treatment decision-making.
Keywords: bran metastases; esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; survival; treatment.